“The Purple Hat” - original still life painting

Painting is 8”h x 10”w on canvas board.

I’ve been exploring and experimenting with casein for a few years. This is actually the first work in that medium that is ‘public’ - meaning ready for framing and showing.

The painting was done from direct observation of an informal still life set up on a shelf in my studio. The wrinkled crown on the hat and its casual angled posture was an interesting contrast to the symmetrical, hard edged objects around it.

Casein is a water-soluble medium. Like other water-based media, it is possible to obtain both opaque and translucent marks and passages. These possibilities allow for intriguing contrasts that reach beyond those attainable with color only.

The wrinkled crown includes many darker shadow areas that were built up with thin layers of paint. Translucency of later brushstrokes allow color from earlier layers to show through. The effect produces interesting minglings that suggest interesting bounced light effects in the shadows.