Oil Painting Still Life: White Jug, Red Bricks, Red Paint Tube

White Jug With Red Paint, oil on panel, Bruce Black, 2024

Framed still life painting with other objects. -Bruce Black

Detail of the red paint tube. -Bruce Black

I recently completed a 9” x 12” oil painting on panel simply called, White Jug With Red Paint. It features a white jug, red bricks, and a red paint tube—a classic still life in the Dutch tradition. This piece went through several stages, from initial composition to final details, each bringing out the unique textures and colors of these elements.

Setting Up the Still Life Composition
The process began in my studio, where I set up a shadow box to create the right lighting environment. I used a cardboard box painted gray on the inside, with holes cut into the sides and top to direct a spotlight precisely onto the scene. I arranged some red bricks as the base, positioning the white jug on top, and added a tube of red paint beside it to enhance the composition. This setup provided not only a compelling size contrast but also allowed the vibrant red to reflect onto the white jug, adding warmth and depth to the scene.

Initial Sketching and Planning
Once the lighting and composition were established, I began with quick, simple sketches in my sketchbook. These sketches helped me observe the jug, bricks, and paint tube closely, noting any shifts in value and color. Sketching was a valuable exercise for working out potential challenges in perspective and form, ensuring that each element felt harmonious in the final piece.

Toning and Underpainting
With the composition planned, I moved to the painting stage by toning a canvas board, setting the groundwork for building up values and details. In this underpainting, I carefully blocked in the main shapes and values of the white jug, red bricks, and red paint tube. Achieving the proper tonal range for a white object was a challenge; while the jug appears all white at first glance, only the highlight is pure white, with the rest in subtle shades of gray. This contrast allowed the white highlight to pop, making the jug appear luminous against the surrounding bricks and paint tube.

Painting Process and Final Touches
I’m a patient painter, working slowly and thoughtfully, and I don’t have the chance to paint every day. As a result, this still life took a few months to complete, with each session revealing new details and enhancing the depth of each object. The layering of color, particularly in the jug and bricks, created a satisfying interplay of light and shadow.

This oil painting of the white jug, red bricks, and red paint tube has a timeless feel, drawing on traditional still life techniques while incorporating my personal style. Let me know what you think—I'd love to hear your feedback!

This painting is Available ($1,200) Inquire Here

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