In case you didn’t notice, there’s a follow-up post on this painting, Purple grapes (continued). The nice thing about these discussions on the web is that they can remain useful long afterwards.

The grapes are wonderfully done. To my minds eye, I think you need some shadows to anchor the grapes resting on the cloth.

I think its a great idea to start with underpainting, more than one layer even, building on the first, before the final values. IMO, this gives a painting some “weight.” I am going to exercise patience and develop this practice.

Did I tell you I love your grapes!!!

What you describe sounds like the first method I remember from childhood as a “technique” (not just plain old drawing). We made an underlayer in different colors of crayons, then colored over it all with black crayon, and then used something sharp (I recall the end of a paper clip) to remove the top layer, revealing lines of bright color. I haven’t thought of that in a long time, but it’s actually akin to some ideas I’m currently experimenting with.

P.S. My office partner is also from Bratislava. Thanks for writing.

I am looking pastels and children wax crayons what writes on web to make some pics also wtih this not only with oil chalks and dry chalks, carbon or red chalks, but also with crayons. I loved technics that is vax crayon covered with school chalks on table and on it black ink and then by needle or some subjects cut into it pictures. I think about such technics and found that sometimes is good make not only classical picture, but also some modern styles that art is art.

Eva Bartosova

Your comment is inspirational.