Today is much cooler than it has been which reminds me of the up coming season I love, FALL! Where the colors of the leaves change and the whole world seems a bit more alive, more colorful! With that being said, I have already jumped into the season painting white pumpkins. When setting up a still life I try and use as many canvases or panels as possible according to the amount of time I have to paint. This time I set up three cradled panels 5 x 5, 6 x 6, and 8 x 8. 

  I start by toning the panels with burnt sienna. Then draw the pumpkin out with paint on the panel with the same burnt sienna I used to tone the panel. Using a paper towel I remove some of the paint in the light areas and add the burnt sienna to the darker areas of the pumpkin. Basically, you are left with a tonal drawing on the panel or a road map to a beautiful painting! Next I lay in the grays in the middle of the pumpkin and drawing in the lines of the ridges. I vary the grays adding blue or purple to even an orange hue. Then I added white to the pinnacle of the pumpkin and a more muted white to the reflective bottom of the pumpkin. The backdrop behind the pumpkin is a painted surface of milk paint named, "Liberty Green". Using mostly Cerulean Blue and other colors I add the background color varying the colors from one side of the painting to the other. The stem is added last with various greens and yellows. 

  Working each panel in basically the same manner, I finally call them finished! I hope you enjoy my progress! Feel free to comment below with any questions! Have a perfect weekend!