I try to think of everything in a painting as a mirror. It's most apparent in highly reflective surfaces, though all surfaces reflect to a degree. These photos show the thought processes I go through when looking at reflections in a potential still life. How I control the reflections in the object. (Feel free to use these photos as a painting reference or for inspiration.)
Reflections in Black
Photo © 2010 Tina Jones
This is my favorite coffee cup. It's black, but who says that has to be flat and uneventful? I like the way the reflective curved surface mirrors and bends objects around it.
The problem shown in this photo is lack of a plan and a cluttery surrounding. What you see reflected here is not what I'd want to show in my painting. My computer keyboard would be fine for maybe an advertisement for some computer company, but no one needs to see the unkept ashtray, or the napkin or the unclean surface. Better can be done!
The problem shown in this photo is lack of a plan and a cluttery surrounding. What you see reflected here is not what I'd want to show in my painting. My computer keyboard would be fine for maybe an advertisement for some computer company, but no one needs to see the unkept ashtray, or the napkin or the unclean surface. Better can be done!
Deliberate Reflections
Photo © 2010 Tina Jones
In the interest of blocking out things that I don't want reflected, I taped two pieces of cardboard together so that they are hinged like a book and would stand at the back and left side of my still life. To the right is a window with strong light.
For fun and added color (getting deliberate in reflections) I set clear colored objects between the cup and the window in yellow and red. Black, of course, can be any range of colors depending on what's reflected in it. I played with turning the cup so that the handle would also catch the splash of color. I've also retained the criss-cross reflection of the coaster near the bottom.
Note: Dead center on the cup near the top lip is a light area. That is my face. I'd most often leave that reflection out. To get rid of me, I should have stood back further from the composition and zoomed my camera.
For fun and added color (getting deliberate in reflections) I set clear colored objects between the cup and the window in yellow and red. Black, of course, can be any range of colors depending on what's reflected in it. I played with turning the cup so that the handle would also catch the splash of color. I've also retained the criss-cross reflection of the coaster near the bottom.
Note: Dead center on the cup near the top lip is a light area. That is my face. I'd most often leave that reflection out. To get rid of me, I should have stood back further from the composition and zoomed my camera.
Reflections Outdoors
Photo © 2010 Tina Jones
I took to the great outdoors for another option. Here, the light is ambient and approaching dusk. I opted to leave out the coaster as it didn't seem to fit the more relaxed atmosphere. The sky reflects on the top of the cup as well as the top and lower inside of the handle with a bit of the chair reflected at the bottom.
I needed something powerful reflected in the cup, so I grabbed a nearby citronella candle and lit it. This time, I chose to leave the object I wanted reflected in my cup in the composition, but I could have cropped it out as easily. This is my personal favorite among the three for the relaxed atmosphere, the light and the warmth of color on black.
I needed something powerful reflected in the cup, so I grabbed a nearby citronella candle and lit it. This time, I chose to leave the object I wanted reflected in my cup in the composition, but I could have cropped it out as easily. This is my personal favorite among the three for the relaxed atmosphere, the light and the warmth of color on black.
