Sight-size Method

Ester Wilson explains how she uses sketches and a studio setup to paint a still life full of texture and dimension

- Ester Wilson

I have collected several Asian dishes and I wanted to put the most colorful items together. After reading a little about ornamental ginger jars, I learned they were originally used to transport and store spices in Asian countries, which is also where peaches have been cultivated for ages. This made perfect sense for a colorful display, so I created the setup with overhead side lighting and began a sight-size painting study, which later became my work Oriental Spice.