One reason I avoided painting people when I started making art was that I knew if the drawing was off, everyone could tell, regardless of training. Still-lifes or landscapes, however, are more forgiving. You still need to achieve a decent eclipse and get the essential perspective right. Yet, unless I show you the reference photo, it’s not apparent the actual size of my apple and its distance from the mug; it’s not evident that the tree has more branches or the buildings are intricately designed. This applies not only to drawing, but also to colors and values. I can make things up as I go, and that’s my creative freedom, right?

I recently viewed some demos from the renowned still life and portrait artist Dale Zinkowski. He painted a simple setup of eggs in the span of 4 hours. I was surprised that during those 4 hours, he devoted the entire first hour to the drawing, not even a complicated one. Most of this time was spent measuring to ensure the accurate positioning of the eggs. Really? Is such meticulousness necessary? Who would notice? As if hearing my question, he began explaining his rationale for taking the time to get the drawing right. It was to hold himself responsible when nobody was watching. His comment makes me think a lot about my own practice. Indeed, in a realist painting, an artist’s job is not to religiously copy everything seen. However, when you spend time designing the setup (Dale said he spent a lot of time putting the eggs in a desirable position), you don’t dismiss it without a good reason. Every observation, measurement, and comparison sharpen your visual acuity. Every drawing revision to align more closely with what you see enhances hand-eye coordination. By holding yourself responsible, you improve the efficiency of your practice, and you get more from each painting experience. It’s not about having to replicate the exact color of the egg before you, but striving for a matching color enriches your skill set, and ultimately, it gives you more freedom in artistic creation. 

This practice might be a simple truth for many, but having taken excessive liberty with my drawing for so long, I’ve wondered why I haven’t made sufficient progress. For me, this was a light bulb that just went on moment. What ensues is implementing this practice. 

Share a few of my recent still life paintings: