Three Simple Things

In this little project we’ll begin to loosen up and let go, bringing together a wooden pear, an orange block and a fresh apple in a softer, more atmospheric way.

Rather than carefully painting each object separately, I’ll show you how to start with a gentle wash across the whole composition and then gradually build the subjects through layers of transparent colour. It’s a technique I often enjoy using in my sketchbooks and it creates a wonderfully light, ethereal feeling.

We’ll mix our colours first, work with glazing and drying between layers, then introduce just enough sharper detail to give the objects structure without losing that lovely softness.

This is a perfect short project for a busy day and a really nice bridge between careful exercises and freer painting. You don’t need to use my subjects either – once you understand the approach, you can choose three simple things of your own and have fun experimenting.