Monthly Challenge (Patreon)

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had fun painting grapes last month! 🍇 The paintings I’ve seen so far look amazing! I love seeing how differently everyone approaches the same subject.

This month, I’ve picked something a little more challenging - a stack of vintage teacups ☕️.

I know, I know........ it’s a challenge but just take it one cup at a time. Here are a few things that might help:

Start with a light wash of grey to get the shape and shadows in. Leave the brightest parts as plain paper to keep that nice porcelain glow.

Try squinting at the photo to simplify what you see because it helps you spot the main shapes and tones instead of getting lost in all the little details.

When you get to the gold handles, don’t overthink it! Just paint the shapes of light and dark you see, not what you think gold should look like. It’s all about suggestion, not precision. You don't need gold paint - use yellow, earthy browns and greys.

There is no tutorial for this - it's a challenge for those who want to try to paint it themselves. And remember, there’s no rush. Take your time and enjoy it. The challenge is all about experimenting and building confidence.

You’ll find the reference photo and line drawing below. I can’t wait to see your paintings pop up in the chat, Facebook group, or Discord.

The reference photo was taken by Rodolfo Marques and I downloaded it from Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/pile-of-ceramic-cups-VXdFTakRmDI

Happy painting,

Louise 🎨