Still life IN 3 HOURS

Former BP Portrait Award runner-up FELICIA FORTE guides you through a simple, structured approach to painting alla prima that tackles dark, average and light colours in turn

- FELICIA FORTE

Felicia's materials

• Support

A sheet of Arches oil paper, 12x16”, and a slightly larger foam core board

• Brushes Series 2025 Chungking Bristle long flats, sizes 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8; Series 2085 Chungking Egbert, size 4; Ultimate Bristle pointed round, size 6; Series 7320 Pure Sable one strokes, sizes 1/8” and 1/4”; Smooshing brush, large; all Rosemary and Co.

• Paints Titanium White, Bright Yellow Lake, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Red, Brilliant Pink, Quinacridone Rose, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre and Ivory Black, all Michael Harding Artists Oil Colours

• Palette New Wave POSH Neutral Grey-stained wooden table-top palette, 15.6x19.6”

• Palette knife

• White spirit

• Linseed oil

• Masking tape

• Paper towels or rags

I am going to walk you through a three-hour still-life study I made for a group of workshop students. I like to choose fun and nostalgic subjects – and for me a hot dog is just that. We need a little humour when learning to paint.

I like to make studies like these on oil paper because it isn’t precious. The lack of prep allows for a relaxed attitude to learning instead of the expectation of high art.