Fruit practice

BBB

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you keep well. I haven’t posted anything in a while, simply because don’t have much to write home about just yet, need to keep practicing. But I thought I’ll show up on the forum and share some studies I did during the Xmas break, to “report” that I’m still sticking with it and benefit from your feedback.
I couldn’t come up with a subject so decided to copy Mark’s peaches first. It turned out a bit too “tight” for my taste, so to loosen up, I did the plums with an oversized brush, and it looks a bit livelier to me. What do you think?
Both Geneva oil on gessoed paper.

tassieguy

These are really good, @BBB. I also did a copy of Mark's peaches when I was just starting out. Good exercise. These are both good but I especially like the plums  - that lovely blue bloom on the skin is amazing. 

KingstonFineArt

Good work

Si1

Great effort very convincing esp. The second

ArtGal

They both look great

BBB

Appreciate your support, @tassieguy! Interesting, thanks for sharing! How long did it take until you formed your personal distinctive style since then? Yes, I also like that blue waxy quality, it was a bit tricky for me to render, will try and do more plums once I upgrade my skill level 

BBB

@KingstonFineArt, @Si1, @ArtGal thank you very much 

oilpainter1950

I think these are very good.  Just think how much you will improve with the next few paintings and you're already doing so well.  Looking forward to seeing your next painting.

BBB

Thank you @oilpainter1950 for being so encouraging! It really helps, I appreciate 

A_Time_To_Paint

Very nice work.  I love them both.  Those plums are amazing!

MichaelD

Really well done @BBB

  

BKW

The silver tin is really well done, and I can feel the velvet on the peaches.  The dust on the plums is amazing!   I really like the composition of the peaches and wonder if they might pop a bit more if the backdrop were darkened or had less drapery?  Maybe too many drape folds?

BBB

Thank you @A_Time_To_Paint and @MichaelD! You’re very kind.
@BKW, thanks! the peaches is after Mark Carder, he has a video where he explains his painting process https://youtu.be/r-kxPLRaz_0 , I followed it to copy, so the compliments are due to him. I admit I went a bit over the top with the drapery, but I just wanted to practice painting fabric 😊

A_Time_To_Paint

@BBB how did you get a good screenshot of his reference photo/final painting?  

BBB

@A_Time_To_Paint, I was just running the YouTube video on my laptop next to the easel and pausing it at different moments depending on which parts I was painting at the time, most frequently focusing on the reference still life set up and the final painting shot

A_Time_To_Paint

Thank you @BBB.  It's more difficult to capture the color from a screen, at least it is for me.