The challenge to render a a 'metallic' effect on leather is an integral part of my enjoyment with this painting. The back of a golden-brown shoe has already been attempted previously in the row of shoe backs, and now, the two shoes with a more silver effect. There is a blue metallic shoe awaiting my attention which will come later. After eye surgery about four years ago the surgeon fitted new lenses in both of my eyes. On discussion, he opted to fit lenses that do not require me to have reading glasses so that I would not need them for painting. Unfortunately over the last few weeks, one eye is deteriorating to a stage where it is never in focus, this means that I am essentially only using one eye when painting. One other reason for my slow work.

 Detail

There are quite a few black shoes in this painting this painting with different amounts of shine! The next step is to attempt a 'metalic' effect on the surface of a shoe. This is the beauty of ladies shoes, they have a vast number of colours and material effects.

Working from both sides of the composition, with the middle lower shelf, gives me a feeling of containment, it defines the boundaries. The left shoe, although black, is a patent leather, so underneath the black already painted, masking fluid lies on the top of the ridges in the leather where the light would reflect. There will be some paler black around them and, for those, I shall blot some paint off at the end stage of painting.

the shoe.

A day off from blogging but the painting continued. This row, showing the backs of shoes is now finished and I shall start to add the shoes on the shelf lower tomorrow.

I am really enjoying painting this.  It is so different from my usual subject of flora. I have added the shoe made of snake skin and the patent leather shoes. There is a great challenge to come as on of the shoes on the top shelf has that 'metallic' colour. I don't know if I can render this effect with normal watercolour paints, but I shall not give up trying! One other thing that I need to keep in mind is that, as I paint from right to left, the shoes will present a slightly different profile, that is, more of the left side of the shoe on the right and more of the right hand side of the shoe on the left.

I am enjoying the start of the colour that ladies shoes present as I progress with the painting. What I found interesting about this shelf is that, being on the other side of the display, only the backs of the shoes are on display to the viewer. This presents an interesting angle and is in contrast to the main shoes in the composition.

The thing that inspire and excite me about this topic for my watercolour painting are how I make the material look as close as possible 'life-like' in relation to the material they are made from. I want the clear perspex heel to look like clear perspex, leather to look like leather, canvas to look like canvas Chrome to look like chrome, aluminium to look like aluminium and I could go on. Only time will tell and viewers can be the judge!

 Detail