I’ve been adding objects to a little shelf in my studio which catches the north light from my window, objects which have caught my eye and that somehow visually complement each other although their uses and origins are rather different.. I cast my eyes over them occasionaly as I’m working and see different combinations which I’d like to paint.  As a preliminary excercise I have started painting individual studies of some of them.  Here’s a shell which I picked up by the river, and another lighter. 

2.27×4″ oil on board

4×6″ oil on board

I’m increasingly drawn to transparent and reflective objects - I especially love the shadows cast by transparent things. Shadows are a very important part of my compositions and I can  spend nearly as long on the shadow as the object itself.