Thought I'd try something new, so here it is.  This is the first two stages of a new still life I'm working on.  In the first picture, I started by toning my canvas with a thin wash of gold ochre.  When that was dry, I used the same gold ochre thinned with a small amount of my medium to loosely sketch in the shapes and values.  Once I was satisfied that I'd gotten what I wanted I let it dry thoroughly for the next steps.

In the second picture,  I laid out a palet of only transparent colors, Alizarin Crimson, Indian Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Viridian Green and Violet.  Using these colors I began blocking in color, lightly though allowing some of the toning to shine through. I used a little of each of these colors to make a transparent black for now.  I also toned down the Viridian Green using a little Alizarin Crimson for my leaves and the shadows on the front of the box.  I laid in the colors for the grapes just smudging with my brush in circular motions and then went back with a little medium on a rag removing the paint to create the lighter side of the grapes, and allowing the toned canvas to shine through.  For the background, I'm not sure yet where I'm going with that, so for now I used some Alizarin Crimson Ultramarine Blue and Indian Yellow to make a transparent Umber to establish my darker areas of the background.  Still have a long way to go, but feel I have a good start.  I'm always open to suggestions.  Not sure what I plan to do with that background, right now I'm leaning towards something very dark, maybe that umber, with light only on the light source of the box.  So far the only thing I wish I'd done different is to position the box a little different, feels like my focal point is too near the center, but maybe I can work that out in color.  I'll post new pictures as I progress, if there is enough interest.  Looking forward to hear what suggestions you have.

Peggy 

nice! my thought is...get your backround in before you do too much more on fruit? I'm self taught and still learning so maybe someone more experienced will chime in...I used to work so hard on something only to mess it up while trying to fill in the backround..

...make sure the box appears deep enough as you decide where is blends into the backround is the other thought I have.

Here's the next phase of this painting.  I began adding another layer of transparent color, deepening shadows and filling in more of the details.  Got my first layers of the lace worked in.  Still need to do more work on the background, but started working in my shadowed areas, mostly by cleaning my brush in the darker areas, using all the colors of the painting.  The next phase should be the finished piece.  Once all this dries I'll start adding the finer details.  May be a while,  time to paint is going to be hard to find over these next days with Christmas and all.  Hope everyone has a  Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Peggy

Really lovely so far Peggy...

details to go on next! Make sure your box's angles all square...which maybe they do... but hard to tell from pic.!

Thanks to all.  Got a lot done on it today.  Spent about 5 hours painting, wanted to keep working but got tired and then got company.  Besides the fact that I reached a point where it's best to let it dry before I add the finishing touches.  Maybe in a few days.  Thanks again for your comments.  I definately feel like I learned a few things. And that is the goal in this.  Can't wait to finish this one and try another one. 

Peggy

OK .  Thought I had this finished, but not sure.  I'm satisfied with everythiing but the lace.  Seems too white.  Thought I'd let it dry and try a wash of yellow or gold ochre, something to age the lace a little.  It really is that white looking at it, but it just doesn't seem to fit the rest of the paintings old look.  What do you think?

Peggy

Wow...this is really rich now!

Nice in depth. About the lace...not sure...maybe just the barest amount of the next shade up from the white you have... here and about... for more anchor?

michele (River)

OK. This is the finished painting.  I did go back and use a thin wash of gold ochre and the smallest amt of ultramarine blue mixed over the lace.  It just helped ground the lace into the rest of the painting better.  Hope you like. Now I can move on to something new.

Peggy

Lovely Peg.

 I showed my daughter since she works the same way you do when she works in several mediums including oil pastel. Her teachers watched and watched not sure why she worked so differently than the other students...and then one day one of them said..."I know what you are...you're a glazer!" Which is an artist who layers in color...letting the first layers of color show through the later. Very nice...we all need to learn and trust our own instincts!

michele (river)