Apples, bottle and a Lemon

[neiljc]

Enjoyed painting all of these for different reasons. All three were big lessons and good experiemce.

[carolkay]

Well Neil your paintings glow, and are so identifiable ! Just curious-- do you have a low light just on the central object in the painting? They are lucious !

[neiljc]

Thanks Carol, I use natural north light during the day and a single daylight bulb at night. My set ups are a starting point and I rarely paint exactly what is in front of me, including the light.

At some stage, sometimes early, sometimes late, I paint what I think is needed rather than what is there.

[*Deirdre*]

Originally Posted by neiljc

Thanks Carol, I use natural north light during the day and a single daylight bulb at night. My set ups are a starting point and I rarely paint exactly what is in front of me, including the light.

At some stage, sometimes early, sometimes late, I paint what I think is needed rather than what is there.

No problem with using your artistic licence Neil...it's what they were meant for! Nicely done!!

[lovin art]

Likeing that first still ALOT!! I feel you could maybe enhance the turning form on that middle apple , the last is sweet!

[aspenman]

BRILLIANT WORK MY FRIEND!! BRAVO!!! And yes I'm yelling - very exciting!!

[neiljc]

Thanks everyone, glad I make someone excited

[chiriacdc]

Just wonderful!

[mprince]

These are all fantastic but the apple and grapes piece really speaks to me. It's my favorite out of all your work I've seen to date.

[cameronm]

I really enjoy your work. Something I notice about your pictures that I find really appealing is an underlying texture that adds to their character. Could you share with us how you prepare your canvases? What do you use to get that texture of brush strokes under your painting? Thanks in advance.

[neiljc]

Thanks everyone,

Cameron, I use two thick coats of white gesso, I don't sand either layer which leaves the brush marks. I like this for the same reason you do, most I think sand the gesso so it is smooth.

[cameronm]

Originally Posted by neiljc

Thanks everyone,

Cameron, I use two thick coats of white gesso, I don't sand either layer which leaves the brush marks. I like this for the same reason you do, most I think sand the gesso so it is smooth.

Thanks for the info. I think my gesso is too liquid, so I don't get those brush marks. Maybe acrylic gesso isn't the way to go.

[jonallerpaintings]

How do you photograph your work to not get a glare on the canvas? Great work by the way!!!!

[neiljc]

I have one overhead light, just a normal ceiling light with a daylight bulb in it, on when I take photos - which is actually the only light I have on when I paint, so the photo is as close as I can get to how it looks on the easel when finished.

I don't see how you can reproduce the painting if you take it outside for example as it was not painted outside - but that is just my opinion

For me, it was painted to a finish on my easel and that is the photo I want with the same lighting.

[neiljc]

You're welcome, I don't thin the gesso, straight out of the tub. Some thin the gesso to help get the surface smooth, but like sanding I don't do that either other than sanding down unwanted paint around the edges of the panel and a light sanding of the surface to knock off any dust debris etc.