STILL LIFES ARE ONE of my favourite subjects, particularly if they have fresh flowers in them as they change session after session, adding a sense of urgency to a subject that is often static. Due to their bright colours, daffodils are my absolute favourite to paint. They offer a subtle variation of yellows and greens that will slowly change towards different shades of gorgeous ochres and siennas as they dry out while I paint them. For this painting, I placed them in a glass vase with water so I can play with the sense of transparency which is always interesting.
For me, the process of painting using a still life as a reference starts long before the brush touches the canvas.daffodils to create some sort of rhythm within the painting, decide on the background colour, try different vases and of course, the light. Everything will contribute to the overall feel of the piece and lay the foundation for a conversation between me and the subject, which will ultimately influence the final result.
