16x20in aluminum panel. Toned with some umber/blue/black mixtures: |
Some brushstrokes. Searching for something. |
Flipped it upside down, started making a solid mass with a direction of light in mind. |
Not sure what this is, but at this point I had a strong desire to return to my first love in painting--chiaroscuro still life from observation. Sometimes you just have to shake things up to realize what you really want to do. I went to the local thrift store and found some new still life objects, including the dark glass candle cover and clear vase on the right. Then new fruit. Here is the setup. A focal green watermelon surrounded by warmer, darker things.: |
Flipped the panel over (which allowed me to start with some green already in the correct place) and started blocking in shapes. Always a little more challenging to do over the chaos of a scraped painting, but also more interesting. |
This is always my favorite stage of painting. Progress is made quickly. A scene begins to take form. |
There is a ton of background or "empty space" in this painting. It's so important, and needs to painted with careful consideration. It will make or break the painting. It can pull everything together. It can either create or destroy focus. I tell students that you need to put the love and time into painting the background just like any of your objects. I go back and forth between objects and background, bringing them up together. Constantly searching for colors and values that will create depth, interest, and put focus where I want it to be.
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I decide on purple around the melon to punch the green as much as possible. Dark at the top to exaggerate the light on the melon, lighter purple at the base of the melon to define the edge where there is a dark cast shadow on the left side of the melon. Every decision for a reason. |
What it looks like in my studio when painting a dark still life: |
And the finished painting: |
View high-res image here. |
"Melon" 16x20in oil on aluminum panel (Artefex honeycomb), 2025 $7200 Now available. Inquiries reply to this newsletter or send me a message at david.cheifetz@gmail.com |
TLDR-- Just watch this Instagram reel of the process instead, haha ;) some extra stages for you in this: |
Evergreen Tattoo Invitational Eugene, OR March 14-16 |
A special thing is happening. My friend Chris Burke (an incredible tattoo artist) is going to tattoo my paintings (or focal portions of my paintings) on interested clients at this tattoo convention! And I get to watch him do it! And meet the human canvases! It will be at the Empire Inks booth (along with owner of Empire Inks, my friend Colt Brown). So we're starting to put the word out: if you're interested in getting a tattoo of my artwork at the Evergreen Tattoo Invitational March 14-16, let me know and I'll get you connected with Chris so that you can get booked. I can't wait to watch Chris do his thing--what a privilege!
I'm also looking forward to getting some painting time in my studio with Chris and Colt!
Here are some examples of Chris Burke's tattoos: |
