The still life is a popular style of painting, because the paintings comprise real objects. People can relate to the shapes depicted. Still lifes can be manipulated to illustrate a wide variety of moods, colors and emotions. The objects give the painter a subject matter that is true to reality. What the artist sees is what she paints.
Create a Still Life Arrangement
A still life is a way to capture a particular view of an arrangement of objects. Still lifes can be complex or simple in nature. When making an arrangement for a still life, include objects that are different colors to provide contrast. Choose objects with simple and interesting shapes for the arrangement. The model may be arranged on different levels, or everything can be placed on a table top. Experiment with the objects' positions to find the most appealing placements. Once the arrangement is built, walk around it to find the best angle. Use a note card with a rectangle cut out of the middle to serve as a "frame" that will help you determine the best view. Take pictures as references in case the arrangement topples.
Draw the Still Life on Canvas
Sketch your preferred view before you start painting. Draw a smaller version of the view on a piece of paper. This smaller mock-up is called a cartoon sketch. Cartoon sketches help the artist understand how the finished painting will look. Study the angles, shadows, highlights and lines created by the objects. Lightly draw the view onto a prepared canvas with a colored pencil to delineate where the forms are to be placed in the painting.
Application of Paint
Once the drawing is on the canvas, add color. Choose a small to medium flat paintbrush to apply the paint. Remember to capture the shadows and the highlights. Studying every aspect of the chosen arrangement will create a high-quality finished painting. A good painting has a variety of shapes, colors and visual textures. Complexity should be balanced with simplicity. Also, the colors in the painting do not have to correspond exactly to what is seen in the arrangement. A certain amount of creative license is a good thing. Shapes can be exaggerated, and details can remain simple in nature. Choose colors that work well together. Select a certain color scheme for the painting. Also consider how the texture of the brushstrokes appears on the canvas. Make long brushstrokes going in the same direction, or dab short quick brushstrokes onto the canvas. Remember to wash your hands when you finish working, as paint may contain lead or cadmium. These are both toxic chemicals.
