Summary
This bell peppers speed painting was a spontaneous still life experiment by Bart Carels. Captured in a short time-lapse video, it shows the fast, layered approach used when working without an underdrawing — focusing on movement, color balance, and immediacy instead of fine detail. The painting features three peppers placed on a wooden surface and partially wrapped in transparent plastic, making it a playful study of texture, light, and shape.
Title: ‘Bell Peppers’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020
Behind the Bell Peppers Speed Painting
Instead of taking progress photos, Bart went straight into a video time-lapse for this piece. No sketching, no underpainting — he started blocking in shapes using bold color. First, the background and wood grain beneath the peppers were painted, then the peppers themselves, and finally the crinkled plastic wrapping. Everything needed to be bold but simple, painted quickly before the paint dried and natural light faded.
Working fast creates a specific kind of pressure: every stroke counts, and you learn to trust your eye over hesitation. It forces focus on essentials: form, contrast, and composition, rather than perfect edges.
Still Life as a Study
Food items like these bell peppers often appear in Bart’s work because they’re familiar and accessible, yet rich in visual complexity. The mix of smooth plastic, reflective surfaces, and organic forms offers constant opportunities to explore color transitions and layered textures — especially under studio lighting. For a more culturally-rooted piece, check out his Indonesian spices speedpainting.
Painting Specifications
- One-of-a-kind original artwork
- Medium: Acrylic on canvas
- Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
- Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White
Availability
Art Supplies I Recommend
These are materials I either use in the studio or genuinely recommend. They hold up well with acrylics and get the job done without drama.
Acrylic Paint
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