Surface: 6×6 Canvas Paper
Date Painted: June 18, 2020
Let’s Get Started
Painting #102 is a simple apple still life painting in oils. It’s one of those pieces that came out of my early exploration into still life studies during the Covid era. I painted this one over multiple sessions, and it became a relaxing Sunday morning Twitch stream that brought in a surprising number of viewers.
The Inspiration
This piece started as an experiment. I’d been trying new techniques and approaches to art, and I remember stumbling across a Lena Danya tutorial on YouTube that broke down how to paint a realistic apple. You can follow the tutorial here.
Materials Needed
Surface
- I did this on canvas paper, cut to size. But you can use normal canvas.
Mediums
- Galkyd Gel oil painting medium
- White Gesso
- Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits
Colors
- Cadmium Lemon
- Ultramarine Blue
- Cadmium Red Light
- Yellow Ochre
- Titanium White
- Alizarin Crimson
- Burnt Sienna
As you can see, there are a few non-Bob Ross colors. Ultramarine blue is a very common blue used in traditional oil painting over Pthalo Blue. See why here.
Equipment
Techniques
Surface Prep
Once you cut the canvas pad to the size you want, I did 6×6, tape it down on your desk, or other painting surface. Then you apply a coat of gesso. Once the gesso dries, give it a light sanding with a fine grit sand paper. This removes some of the rough gesso brush texture. Repeat the process one more time and you’re ready to get started.
Toning the Canvas
Since this is a more traditional style of oil painting, versus the wet‑on‑wet technique, Lena’s cherry still life tutorial introduced me to toning the canvas. It might not have been the first time I’d heard of the practice, but it was definitely the first time I actually tried it.This tutorial also required toning.
Toning serves a few purposes. It knocks back the stark white of the canvas so you’re not fighting bright, reflective white while you paint. It also gives you a middle value to work from, which makes judging highlights and shadows much easier. And depending on the color you choose, it can subtly influence the mood of the painting as the undertone peeks through later layers.
For this apple still life painting study, I mixed a small amount of Burnt Sienna with Gamsol to create a very thin, almost watercolor‑like wash. The goal is a transparent film, not a solid coat. You brush that mixture over the entire surface in a thin, even layer—just enough to push the white back and give the canvas a soft, warm undertone. The value should stay very light; you’re not trying to stain the canvas heavily, just set the stage for the rest of the painting.
Painting the Apple
This painting came together slowly over several sessions, so I won’t go into every step here. You can follow Lena’s tutorial for the full breakdown. The broad process, though, was all about building up color and texture gradually. I started with the shadows and darkest values first, then blended outward toward the mid‑tones and highlights. Painting darks first is a common approach in traditional oil work and plein air landscapes, though I didn’t realize that at the time. It creates a solid value structure early on and makes the highlights feel more natural when you finally place them. This slow, layered method is what gave the apple its depth and realism.
The background came later, once the apple was dry enough to work around, and finishing it helped the whole piece feel grounded.
Final Thoughts
At the time, I didn’t expect fruit still lifes to be something I’d enjoy, or be good at, but this apple still life painting changed that. The simplicity of the subject, the soft gradients, the reflective highlights, and the slow, meditative pace of the work all clicked for me. It was one of those paintings where you realize that you’ve found a new lane worth exploring. I realized I wanted to explore more still life work without relying on tutorials — to challenge myself and see what I could create on my own.
I also remember the atmosphere around it: a quiet Covid‑era morning, coffee nearby, Twitch chat rolling steadily, and viewers hanging out while I worked through each layer. It was one of those calm, communal painting sessions that made streaming feel meaningful.
This painting is a small piece, but it represents a shift in my confidence and curiosity as an artist.
What challenged you as a new artist? What forced you out of your comfort zone?
Let me know in the comments.
I had this painting professionally matted and framed and it’s available in my shop.
Apple Still Life Oil Painting, Matted & Framed
Simple apple still life oil painting in frame.
As always, you can find more paintings, tips, and tutorials throughout my blog and gallery. I’m on all the standard social platforms so find me and say hi!
Happy painting!
