IOP-8893 Broken Pots (Acrylic 80 minutes) In this Inspiration of Painting episode, Jerry Yarnell creates a bold Southwest pottery still life: with three broken pots, hand-painted Indian-inspired designs, and a desert foreground with sand drifts, weeds, and tiny bursts of color. The real magic is how he builds the look in clear stages:

1. Background first: water + gesso + lots of color “blobs,” then blend with quick X strokes to remove harsh lines while keeping color movement.

2. Sketch + block-in: burnt sienna/umber/purple + blue mixes to establish pot shapes and interior values

3. Highlight + texture: dry brushing + scumbling for weathered clay texture and rounded form.

4. Design + age: simple lines, dots, “snake” patterns, and realistic cracks/chips.

5. Finish: drifted sand + foreground weeds + optional flower/seed-pod accents for sparkle.

From the Jerry Yarnell Inspiration of Painting PBS television art education instructional video series.