Delicious Details

In painting, it is said that "God is in the details...."

The Old Dutch Still Life painters knew how to delight the eye...and I imagine that they had a lot of fun doing this.

This opulent display of delicious details are all from one painting, Jan Davidszoon de Heem's 

Vase of Flowers, c. 1660

Each detail is lovingly rendered. It is "realistic" but "not real." 

The artist has created a fantasy where all the plants and flowers mature at the same time and tiny insects are willing to peacefully coexist in order to pose long enough for the artist to paint them.

HA!

Another saying about what makes a good painting is "that the artist made every square inch interesting."

As one of the greatest painters of still life in the Netherlands, I'd say that de Heem was successful in doing just that.

Painting Drips and Drops - Part #1

How to paint water drips on a vertical surface in four easy steps.

This little 8" x 10" painting has a lot of water drops. I add these details to a dry painting surface at the end.

I posted the largest file allowed for this so you could see better detail if you click on the above picture.

Here's how to do it when the light source comes from the upper left:

DRIP STEP 1

I use a dark color - raw umber works for me but any transparent dark will do. You are making the shape of a drip. A drip will occur on a vertical or slanted surface. A cast shadow will be on the lower right (i.e., Darker).

DRIP STEP 2

You will be looking through the water and it creates a soft shadow on the top left and the harder, sharper cast shadow on the lower right side of the drip.

Detail (above)

DRIP STEP 3

Light will be reflected on the top right and will define the top of the drop. I use Zinc White so the original color shows through. The light does NOT touch the shadow and we want to see the untouched color of the surface between light and shadow.

DRIP STEP 4

Lastly, add a highlight in the shadow area. I use Titanium White for this as I want it to be clearly defined and opaque.

Detail (above) from Apples Still Life (below).

Apples Still Life, 8" x 10" Oil on Linen

Painting Drips and Drops - Part #2

How to paint water drops on a horizontal surface in four easy steps.

This little 8" x 10" painting has a lot of water drops. I like to add fun (and fast) details to a dry painting surface at the end.

I posted the largest file allowed for this so you could see better detail if you click on the above picture.

Here's how to do it when the light source comes from the upper left:

DROP STEP 1

I use a dark color - raw umber works for me but any transparent dark will do. You are making the shape of a drop. A cast shadow will be on the lower right (i.e., Darker). 

This particular view is from the side on a horizontal surface. If you had a top view, for example, you would draw it differently of course, but the principle is e

xactly the same.

Detail (above)

DROP STEP 2

You will be looking through the water and it creates a soft shadow on the top left and the harder, sharper cast shadow on the lower rig

ht.

More detail (above)

DROP STEP 3

Light will be reflected on the top right and will define the top of the 

drop. I use Zinc White so the original color shows through. The light does NOT touch the shadow and the color of the surface shows through between the light and shadow.

DROP STEP 4

Add a highlight in the shadow area. I use Titanium White for thi

s as I want it to be clearly defined and opaque.

Painting drips and drops is really a piece of cake, isn't it?

Above detail from Cherries Still Life.

And bugs are fun too.

You can see a lot of drips and drops in my Still Life section.

Above detail from Strawberries Still Life.