STILL LIFE PAINTINGS IN OILS BY MIKE SKIDMORE
What I paint in terms of subject matter changes frequently. Creating like a production line isn’t my thing. I have an open imagination that needs freedom to follow its own path and sustenance to flourish. So, if I create something I find exciting, I will follow a theme. The ‘Impossibles’ series (below) is a case in point. This came after walking through an antique shop, where I spotted a dusty old sailing ship inside a bottle, stirring my childhood intrigue. As I recall, I asked my grandad how it was done. He explained that the ships were pushed inside with the sails down, and that a thread hoisted the sails.
After staring at the ship for a while, an idea began germinating. What if an object were placed inside a bottle that was impossible to do, like a magic trick? On my way back from the shop, I bought some vegetables and noticed a bunch of asparagus tied together with a string. It seemed serendipitous because they were a perfect fit for the length of a bottle, and the string added an extra element that hinted at a narrative. I loved addressing the tricky bits of the painting because the images had to be photographed separately and brought together on the canvas. Shadows had to be manipulated and highlights fabricated to ensure the bottle’s contents were easy to see. After six paintings, I felt I had exhausted the theme and moved on to something new.
Apples and pear. Oils on canvas.
Green grocers and brown paper came to mind for painting this still life.
Bicycle lamps. Oils on canvas.
Beautiful to see, lovely to hold and fond memories of cycling with my dad.
Cauliflower on a plinth. Oils on canvas.
The sculptural shape typified nature’s creativity, hence the plinth.
Cuckoo. Oils on canvas.
This is actually a cuckoo’s egg, though it has been enlarged to fit the composition.
The impossible asparagus. Oils on canvas.
As well as the touch of surrealism it is the lighting that works so well.
Levitation. Oils on canvas.
The idea for this surreal painting came when I thought about painting a soufflé.
The impossible spoon. Oils on canvas.
Avocado vinaigrette inspired this still life.
Lemon and sprats. Oils on canvas.
The silvery sheen on the sprats complemented the lemon’s colour and texture.
Railway lamps. Oils on canvas.
Inspired by the painting of bicycle lamps.
Swede on a plinth. Oils on canvas.
The humble swede is elevated to a work of art in its own right.
Cloth in a glass. Oils on canvas.
The cloth was cut from an old cushion that had seen better days until this painting.
The impossible olives. Oils on canvas.
So much of this still life was made up to get it to work.
Egg on a tightrope. Oils on canvas.
This still life plays on the fragility of eggs when they hit a hard surface.
Whisks in a jar. Oils on canvas.
One of the most patience-testing paintings I have produced with the whisks.
Cider and perry. Oils on canvas.
Classical techniques, including glazes and impasto, were used in this still life.
Apricots, flowers and vase. Oils on canvas.
Classical still life in oils composition.
Gem. Oils on canvas
Grown in my garden, painted on my easel and rested on my plate.
Fruit and a napkin in a glass. Oils on canvas.
The colours and textures are what made painting this still life a joy to work on.
The impossible leek. Oils on canvas.
Another still life painting that relied on artistic licence to bring the composition to life.
Asparagus spear. Oils on canvas.
This still life plays on the word ‘spear,’ which brought a few chuckles at my easel
Bulb on a broken beam. Oils on canvas.
Apart from the juxtaposition of hard objects, I love the contrasting textures.