Backgrounds in Still Life Paintings

In a previous post I wrote about my painting, Orange and Grapes on Plate. Backgrounds of still life paintings are important and need careful consideration. In my painting, I used a muted violet. This hue (color) enhances the warm orange slices. I frequently paint backgrounds using a mixture of 2 hues that are from objects in my painting. The main hue of this mixture is usually the complement of my focal point. As I also mentioned, dark colors are not close to objects I wish to paint with a luminous glow. Dark values will detract from the luminosity of the object. Colors may be dark and still transparent. Transparent paints will push a shape further back from the picture plane. Representational artists often use transparent paints in the backgrounds of their art.

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Still Life Paintings - Master Artist Chardin

French artist, Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin (1699-1779) was a master at painting still life subjects. Chardin painted in a realistic style and was known for his use of color and light. The above painting is, The Attributes of the Arts (1766). The compositional structure is a triangle; often seen in still life paintings. The head of the statue is at the top of the triangle. This is an important visual location. The light source is on the left and results in depth and color. Chardin turned ordinary subjects into wonderful art with his compositions, colors and light.

New Zazzle.com sale. 75% off cards, invitations and $5 off postage. Sale lasts until December 1, 2010 at 11:59 pm, Pacific Time. Code is in my shop announcement. Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. Did you know that my items are in the public setting? If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist* .

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Barbizon Artist, Millet: The Harsh Land & Work

The French artist, Jean-Francois Millet (1814 - 1875) believed in painting outdoors. However, although a member of the Barbizon school, he would observe the outdoors and then paint it in his studio. The Barbizon artists painted realism in art. Natural scenes became the subjects of their paintings. Millet painted peasants working in rural areas: similar to his own background. He painted workers in the fields with strong light. His powerful compositions and light influenced a number of artists, i.e. Van Gogh, Sisley. In his painting, The Gleaners (around 1857), Millet painted the workers gathering wheat left behind after the reaping. He paints the harsh, dry land. His use of strong lights and shadows contributes to an emotional image. The figures are weighted down. Millet shows the peasants trying to survive.

Zazzle.com sale on different items every 2 hours continues. Click on title of this post to buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, shirts and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. Final prices are shown after you customize products and select the quantity of the product in my store and other stores. Did you know that my items are in the public setting? If you are on another Zazzle site, i.e. Zazzle.ca, you can buy my items. You will not be eligible for sales on Zazzle.com. If you received this post via email (feedburner), you may need to copy and paste this URL into your browser, http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist* .

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Buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free within Canada and the U.S. There is no sales tax. http://arlene-babad.fineartamerica.com (buy direct from the artist; no need to register or log in to site) and http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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