From the Artist: This is my first still life painting. I think I've messed up the background and shadows. Also, how do I choose a background color?
From the Painting Guide: While I would agree that the background needs some work, there are some lovely things beginning to happen with your shadows on the cloth on which the fruit is standing. You've captured a real feeling of folds in the cloth, and I think adding a third, dark tone in a few places and softening some of the edges of the shadows will take it to the next level.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Direction of Light and Shadows: I think the highlights on your apples are to central for where the shadows are left. Getting the direction of light and the shadows consistent is crucial for the painting to seem realistic, or believable. I would change the highlights on the apples so they're a small spot near the top, right-hand side, and then your shadows will fit.(See also: Which Direction is the Sun Shining From?)
I would also set up the pineapple again (or, rather, take a fresh one!) and check just how the shadow on the left falls. I suspect it'll be less of a curve, and with a softer edge to it. Also look for changes in tone between the top and bottom of the pineapple.
Backgrounds: A background needs to go behind the objects in a painting, not look as if it goes around them. If you were painting with opaque acrylics or oil paints you can paint over the background, but with watercolor you either need to paint the background last or have sketched in your composition so you know which areas to leave white.
Painting the background last means you need the brush control to paint right up to a finished part without accidentally painting over it. This comes with practice and it's worth spending the time practicing on a scrap bit of paper or in a sketchbook, rather than only when you're working on an actual painting. You can also try masking off bits of a painting with frisket.
Colors for a Background: There are no rules for this, it's a matter of personal choice. If you're wanting a Chiaroscuro effect, you'll opt for a dark background. You could select a color from the subject itself, or a complementary color. You could use one color or use a varied background. To help you decide, take a close look at what the artist has done in paintings you admire, then do something similar.
From the Painting Guide: While I would agree that the background needs some work, there are some lovely things beginning to happen with your shadows on the cloth on which the fruit is standing. You've captured a real feeling of folds in the cloth, and I think adding a third, dark tone in a few places and softening some of the edges of the shadows will take it to the next level.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Direction of Light and Shadows: I think the highlights on your apples are to central for where the shadows are left. Getting the direction of light and the shadows consistent is crucial for the painting to seem realistic, or believable. I would change the highlights on the apples so they're a small spot near the top, right-hand side, and then your shadows will fit.(See also: Which Direction is the Sun Shining From?)
I would also set up the pineapple again (or, rather, take a fresh one!) and check just how the shadow on the left falls. I suspect it'll be less of a curve, and with a softer edge to it. Also look for changes in tone between the top and bottom of the pineapple.
Backgrounds: A background needs to go behind the objects in a painting, not look as if it goes around them. If you were painting with opaque acrylics or oil paints you can paint over the background, but with watercolor you either need to paint the background last or have sketched in your composition so you know which areas to leave white.
Painting the background last means you need the brush control to paint right up to a finished part without accidentally painting over it. This comes with practice and it's worth spending the time practicing on a scrap bit of paper or in a sketchbook, rather than only when you're working on an actual painting. You can also try masking off bits of a painting with frisket.
Colors for a Background: There are no rules for this, it's a matter of personal choice. If you're wanting a Chiaroscuro effect, you'll opt for a dark background. You could select a color from the subject itself, or a complementary color. You could use one color or use a varied background. To help you decide, take a close look at what the artist has done in paintings you admire, then do something similar.