From my tool box

Bolt, Nut, Washer and Wrench, 3.5" x 5", oil on linen, ©copyright Richard Luschek 2012

Finished this manly little still life today. I posted the lay-in the other day, and with a few hours more I got the picture finished up. As you can see from the lay-in shown below (probably about 3 hours work) I am trying to get the general look of the set up. I try to hit the general key and color- basically I work from the middle. What I mean by that is I am not usually indicating the darkest darks or lightest lights- just the general tonality. I work fast and loose on the first day pushing around shapes until I like the abstraction. I did a very rough drawing, with just enough info to make sure the image will fit on the canvas. I try to do as little drawing as possible, and them paint with big brushes so I can only paint broadly.
I let the painting dry and then start in on a second coat trying to get it more like nature. The image starts to come into focus. I never accept that the drawing is done, constantly moving things to improve the image. I use more oil at this point to get my darks to flow thinly. I either use a medium (1/3 stand oil, 1/3 damar and 1/3 turpentine) or poppy oil, which I have been enjoying lately. I paint with thick paint in the light areas. The highlights are placed in almost in piles and carved into shape with a small sable brush.

Bolt, Nut, Washer and Wrench (first day lay in), 3 1/2 x 5", Oil on linen, ©copyright Richard Luschek 2012