Greetings,
My painting space has usually doubled as my gym. The studio/gym combo has been a basement (once) or a garage (thrice). It is my ideal work environment. Sometimes the equipment makes it into a painting.
The setup. The juxtaposition of a nigh-indestructible iron kettlebell amongst a sea fragile glassware was pleasing to me 😁. I chose the light background to support my objective of dark kettlebell as focal center. The glassware adds interest while being able to remain ghostly/subservient and retaining dominance of the kettlebell's dark value. In several ways, the glassware is the common majority in the composition and the kettlebell is the odd man out. Every decision (color, value, level of detail) is intentional.
First stage: (I was on a roll so I neglected taking photos at the very beginning of the painting)
I ended up adding a small glass on the right side to improve the composition. The kettlebell is such a pleasing shape to paint.
Next stage:
At the beginning of the painting, I put out my full palette of colors because I wasn't sure what I'd end up needing. As it turned out, not much. For the second sitting I only put out the colors I'd used thus far. A limited palette of ivory black, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cad yellow medium, cad lemon, and titanium white.
The blob of goo in the lower left hand corner is Neo Megilp (Gamblin), one of my favorite mediums.
And the finished painting, "Iron & Glass" (9x12 oil on panel, 2013):
Thanks for reading! -David
