Older Works: Yarn Shop Cafe Still Life

Going back through older paintings again I found this still life from early 2006. I think this was one of my early attempts to render clear glass and reflective metal . . . which I tackled several times earlier this year with my homage to Ralph Goings condiments. I had done an earlier watercolor sketch of this scene employing the same size paper and narrow cropping that I used on the recent image of a Lambretta scooter. Several months later I returned to this subject with my usual larger format, 9" x 12". It's from a cafe in the West Village that specializes in yarns and knitting supplies . . . one of my wife's numerous outlets for her knitting hobby. I should have included knitting needles and a skein of yarn on the table. Hmmm, maybe I'll come back to this theme and do just that. The main difference I see between this and more recent works is that my painting now seems more confident and the color blending is more carefully controlled. I also think that my initial pencil sketches are more assured now than they were back then . . . and they're less noticeable now. Still, I'm pleased with the selzer bottle and sugar shaker. (Pencil, watercolor, Fabriano paper, 9" x 12")