Have you ever tried painting crystal, only to watch the reflections and values shift before your eyes? Shelley Prior knows that struggle well—and has developed a smart system that blends traditional still life setups with photography to stop time and simplify the process, without sacrificing creativity.
“Whenever I begin a new painting with glass or metal objects, I start with a photograph,” she says. “I do this because the slightest change of light or tilt of the head will instantly shift the values and colors, much like turning a kaleidoscope.
“I still use traditional still life setups to take note of the general color and to see details but a camera can freeze the moment for me so that I’m not constantly trying to chase a moving target as I try to sort out the sometimes complex shapes and values. I try multiple arrangements and prefer light coming through my window whenever possible because artificial light never seems to have the same brilliance.
“I will step back from my arrangement and use the camera lens to zoom in on the subject rather than taking it at close range which can often cause distortion. Moving around the arrangement or trying eye-level or a birds eye view from above can give me a new perspective rather than always choosing the same angle for the photo reference.
“Once I have rearranged and taken multiple images, I compare and choose the one I like best. If it’s something quite complex, like crystal, I may enlarge the image and transfer it because drawing it would be very time-consuming, even though I would be able to draw it by hand.
“It’s a time-saver for me but I do continue to practice my drawing skills all of the time so that I am never at the mercy of tracing or projecting the image exactly as it has been photographed. I want the ability to edit or change elements from the reference and for this you need drawing skills.”
Join Shelley Prior for Watercolor Live’s Essential Techniques Day, January 20, 2026! She’ll help you decide which paper, brushes, and watercolor paints are right for you. Then more top artists will walk you through all you need to know about crucial techniques, composition, value, color, and more!
