Still-life (with half a banana)

The genesis of a still-life

This still-life was born of one of those double takes when walking past something seen in the corner of the eye. The arrangement of the fruit is odd, and there is a lot of space, which I like. The bottom half of the painting is free of distraction. The grain of wood becomes more important. The knife marks and the drops of juice become slightly sinister.

Painting a still-life in acrylics

I had some intention of painting a regular still-life. I admire the photo-realistic still-life oils that I see quite frequently on Instagram. With oil paints, it is easier to achieve subtle blending effects than with acrylics – but it’s still possible, one only has to use the right amount of retarder in the paint to slow drying. This painting shows my fundamental laziness and impatience as an artist. More charitably, it says that I prefer an expressionistic look to a more finished piece. The truth is probably somewhere between these two states.

I also really liked the imperfections in the fruit (the marks of ripening on the banana, the soft dent in the strawberry, the slight dryness of the lime) and the dark shadows.

If you like this painting, you might also enjoy this similar still-life, a homage to an old bookplate or perhaps this Hosta.