Even with all that preparation, it took forever just to lay out the palette; I had drawn the line at any paint containing heavy metals (cadmiums and cobalts) so substitutes had to be found or mixed. And then there was the mathematical terror which every artist knows: one blank canvas plus one dry brush equals nothing.
Four hours later, I had a rough but LOOSE still life. The time between start and finish was fraught with regret: Why on earth had I chosen a reflective gold bowl? And why compound the challenge by then placing said bowl on a figured tapestry? Am I delusional?
Anyway, I soldiered through and barely took a breath for the next four hours. It's still highly reflective so the background will be quieter but I want to detail the roses a bit more. Most importantly, the leaves definitely need work; I was loath to spend the prince's ransom that viridian demands but my creative mixing produced too sharp a green. I also moved the position of the leaves several times so that needs to be sorted out. That said, I'm satisfied with the lack of over-working as well as the reflection and the overall feel.
Now it's back to the cupboards in search of more fodder! Stay tuned.