Sipping – Katie Jeanne Wood

Sipping
8×8 gouache on paper
Available here

I got a little bored with portraits a few weeks back, so I created these still life paintings. It’s been a while since I’ve painted objects, so to refresh my memory, I started off by reading a how-to demo by Will Kemp.

I wasn’t trying to copy him, obviously. I just wanted to get a feel for how he goes about painting a still life & I used his photos for reference. All the rest is my spin, and made up from my imagination. The background changed many times before I finally landed on pink & black with the green striped border.

It’s quite possible to use any photo you see online as a reference, whether it’s a photograph or another artist’s painting, and not get in trouble or feel bad for doing so. All you have to do is make your painting your own, and not copy what you see exactly. There is no way anyone could look at this painting and say, “she used Will Kemp’s demo for this one” because it looks nothing like his painting or reference photo. You only know I used his photos as guidance because I’m telling you it was part of my process.

Chilly Night Tonight
8×8 gouache on paper
Available here

Same goes for this second painting. I actually looked at several reference photos before I started painting. The colors I choose are mine, tho. The idea for the chair behind the table came from Sandi Hester. Originally I thought I was painting a striped table cloth or placemat, like I did in the first painting. Then a vague vision of one of Sandi’s paintings popped into my mind’s eye. I couldn’t remember what her painting looked like specifically…only that she’s painted numerous chair & table settings. I didn’t look it up. It would have taken too long to find it, and I was busy painting. Plus, I didn’t want Sandi’s paintings to influence the rest of my painting.

Tin Cup & Plate
8×8 gouache on paper
Available here