An appropriate background is essential for setting the scene in a still life composition.
by Janet Walsh
|
Silver Server With Cups
2002, acrylic, 12 x 24. |
The artist has done a nice job painting these still life items. However, the artist may want to consider altering the background—the dark colors make the objects in the painting appear flat. A lighter background color would present opportunities to incorporate lost edges. The artist may also want to incorporate a fabric or window backdrop into the composition to create a setting for this still life. Some thought should also be given to rearranging the setup, so the pieces are not so evenly balanced (four cups on one side and four silver pieces on the other side).
About the Critic
Janet Walsh, the president of the American Watercolor Society, has received many awards and honors, including the AWS Bronze Metal of Honor and the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Award. Limited editions and prints of her work have been published in the United States, Europe, and Japan. She is the author of Watercolor Made Easy: Techniques for Simplifying the Painting Process (Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, New York), and her paintings can be found in many corporate and private collections. Walsh has been featured in numerous museum shows across the United States. The artist studied at the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League of New York, both in Manhattan.
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