Catherine McVean
8th November 2025
Catherine explained her choice of subject of lemons and a silver jug, for her demonstration of a still-life in oils, because they give strong contrasts and she also likes the reflections in the silver. She had a very impressive set-up to display the still-life. She created a box-like structure around the subject, which was sat on top of an adjustable plinth. In answer to a question at the end, she told us she had several different coloured background boards and used them for different effects. For this demo she set up the still-life so she was looking straight on, but at other times she might adjust the height to look from above. She had a lamp covered in a thin fabric (to soften the light) directed at the subject, and another light for her board.
Catherine uses traditional oils, as she likes the slow drying time, and a low odour solvent. She explained she has one pot of solvent for cleaning her brushes and another for mixing, in order to keep the colours clean. However, she said that she uses very little solvent after the initial stages. She used a rigger brush and a dilute red paint to sketch out her composition, checking the relative sizes and positions of the fruit and jug as she worked. She demonstrated how she achieves the ellipse at the top of the jug - twice, as she felt the first attempt was not quite correct!
She started by putting in the darks on the jug first, then moving to the lemons, then the background. Once she had blocked in, she moved to details, to strengthening, or softening the different tones and correcting any shapes. She worked on the white cloth at the end, but in fact, using different shades of grey, just adding a few lighter patches for variety. She said she 'squints' and checks for colour and shade accuracy throughout.
She talked through her choice of colours throughout the demo, saying what she was mixing or adding and it was fascinating to see how she achieved the gradation of yellows on the lemons and the effect of the shine and shadows on the jug, softening the edges between shades. For more information about the colours and materials Catherine uses click here.
Catherine is a confident and accomplished artist, talking us through her process for the whole demonstration, which the audience very much appreciated. Below you can see a half-way stage in her work and the very impressive finished painting.
