Willem Kalf’s "Still Life with Lobster, Drinking Horn and Glasses" (c. 1653) is one of my favorite still lifes. It is huge. I figure this will take me about a year to finish. My goal on this page is to write down all the painting steps. I generally keep a running task list, and I am copying the task list here when a step is complete.
Step 1. Canvas.
I purchased an archival-quality birch wood panel that is 30 x 40 inches.
The original painting is 34.0 in × 40.2 in.
I cut off the bottom 4 inches of the original drawing.
I started this on 01JUN2026.
Step 2. Gesso: The panel (or canvas) must be gessod first.
1st layer of white gesso
Wait until dry; 2nd layer of white gesso
Wait until dry; 3rd layer of white gesso mixed with Liquitex burnt sienna
Sand with very fine sandpaper and wipe off dust as needed between coats
Step 3. Drawing
I cheat and trace the drawing. I can draw the image by hand. However, hand-drawing the image adds weeks to the process.
Use an online tool to convert a high-resolution image to a line drawing. Print the line drawing.
Cut pages with a metal straight edge and an X-acto knife
Tape the pages together
Cover back where lines are with a number 2 pencil
Align and tape to canvas
Trace the drawing and check each section, ensuring that the tracing is transferred to the canvas
Step 4. Matte Medium
I put 3 coats of matte medium over the gesso to allow light to penetrate and reflect back. I paint in different directions to ensure the panel is completely covered.
Wait for each layer to dry before painting the next layer. I usually wait an hour or more.
Paint the 1st layer vertically
2nd layer Paint horizontally
3rd layer mixed with a touch of burnt sienna so it is transparent. Paint diagonally
Step 5. Paint edges black
Mix neutral black: use Liquitex colors: burnt umber, ultramarine blue, Dioxazine purple. Liquitex colors are more opaque than Golden Open acrylics.
Use blue painter's tape to mask the front face of the panel
1st coat neutral black
2nd coat neutral black
Take off the blue tape
3rd coat matte medium
Wait until dry; Use blue painter's tape to mask edges. The painter's tape will stay on until the painting is finished,
Step 6. Paint edges neutral black
Mix neutral black: use liquitex colors because they are more opaque and dry faster then Golden Open: burnt umber, ultramarine blue, Dioxazine purple
use blue painters tape to mask front of canvas
1st coat neutral black
2nd coat neutral black
3rd coat matte medium
Wait until completely dry; Use blue painters tape to mask edges; wrap around back of panel. keep tape on until painting is finished