A work of art depicting inanimate collections of objects is called a still life. It can be a bowl of fruit, a pile of books, or everyday objects kept in a room. At first glance, it appears simple, yet the objects shown in the painting are worthy of the artist's work, inviting the viewer to delve deeper into their complexity.
Although the genre has been in existence in many cultures, for instance, in ancient Egyptian tombs decorated with paintings of objects from daily life, modern art also provides opportunities to experiment with new techniques, styles, and forms. It was particularly popularised in Holland after the Renaissance in the sixteenth century and has continued to be explored in contemporary times.
The genre reflected urbanisation in the Netherlands during the 17th century, emphasising personal possessions, the home, and commerce.
What is Still Life, with Examples?
Still life paintings are a genre of art that depict inanimate objects kept inside and outside, with materials arranged on a table or other surface. These objects can vary widely and may include fruits, flowers, food items, household goods, ceramics, glassware, textiles, and other items.
The term "still life" originates from the Dutch word "stilleven," which gained popularity in the 17th century in the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age of painting, notable for artists such as Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt. This historical connection to the Dutch Golden Age allows us to appreciate the rich roots of still life painting and its enduring significance in the art world.
Still-life examples from the 17th century often included symbolic components that conveyed deeper meanings or moral messages. For example, vanitas still lifes often included objects such as hourglasses and extinguished candles to remind viewers of the impermanence of life.
In the 19th century, still-life painting continued to evolve, with artists such as Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) experimenting with new techniques and styles. Cézanne is renowned for his innovative approach to composition and form, which laid the groundwork for the development of modern still-life paintings.
Still Life Drawing Step-By-Step Guide.
Basic Still life drawing step-by-step Guide include
Directions:
- Identify at least four basic geometric forms (squares, cones, circles, cylinders).
- Arrange them in an interesting composition with a single light source.
- Create a pencil drawing, include a background, and fill out the whole page.
- Use a full range of values to illustrate chiaroscuro.
Still Life Painting Ideas
Unlike drawing the human form, animals, or landscapes—which can often be challenging—still life can be as simple or as complex as you choose. This flexibility empowers you to focus on learning essential drawing skills without feeling overwhelmed or distracted by intricate details, encouraging you to explore and experiment with your artistic abilities.
Still lifes can be created through various mediums, including painting, drawing, photography, or sculpture. You don't need a skull or a bowl of fruit for motivation when creating a still life. Themes of death and fragility are explored in both memento mori ("remember you must die" in Latin) and vanitas paintings.
Memento mori typically features pieces such as skulls, extinguished candles, and hourglasses, while vanitas paintings include additional symbols of power, like wine and musical instruments.
Artists may be inspired to create still lifes for numerous reasons. For instance, Cézanne wanted to experiment with perspective and the arrangement of objects within the composition. Sometimes, a still life reflects a significant aspect of the artist's life, such as the frequent time spent indoors.
Although still lifes may seem simple, they can convey complex themes. Some works celebrate life and its pleasures by depicting food, wine, and material wealth, as seen in Willem Kalf's painting, Still Life with Ewer, Vessels, and Pomegranate.' Contrarily, they can also function as a cautionary reminder of the threats and the transient nature of these pleasures.
Still Life Oil Painting
Traditional oil painting techniques emphasise the depiction of natural forms from life. The classical method involves daily drawing from life, and in oil painting, artists must "assume" the correct color, value, and color temperature in a single brushstroke. Generally, panels used for oil painting are finer than canvases because they are less affected by changes in room temperature and humidity.
- Clarified, cold-pressed linseed oil is considered the best medium for oil painting due to its stability. The direct oil painting technique involves applying full color right from the start without an initial monochrome underpainting. However, this approach typically includes 2-3 layers, depending on the artist's style.
- The indirect oil painting technique is the most traditional method of painting. It involves creating an underpainting in a single color and then layering additional colors in subsequent steps, with the possibility of various deviations along the way.
- Grisaille, meaning 'grey' in French, is an oil painting technique that artists have employed for centuries. It involves painting in monochrome or shades of grey.
- Glazing is a technique used to unify the shadow areas, enhance colors, and create special effects. It requires applying very thin layers of oil paint over a dry base layer.
- Scumbling involves applying a light, opaque paint over a previous layer to create texture.
- Sfumato, an Italian term meaning "softly shaded," provides oil paintings with a foggy or smoky effect. Leonardo da Vinci is widely credited with inventing and popularising this technique.
Still Life Artists
Still life paintings can be traced back to ancient times, but they became particularly popular in the Impressionist period by artists such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and others. Still life paintings were often used to showcase the skill of the artist in capturing texture, light, and form.
During the Impressionist period, still life painting took on a new significance, as artists used it to experiment with light and color, often depicting scenes from their daily lives.
Still life painting became an independent genre until the late 16th century when Flemish and Dutch artists captured intricate compositions of everyday objects. In the early days of the art form, the scenes represented prosperity and were also infused with religious symbols. Over time, the genre gained popularity across Europe and the US, taking on many shapes and forms.
Some of the most popular Still life artists were –
- Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) set the ground for the emergence of modern art movements. Over time, Cézanne experimented with still life painting, a genre that allowed him to explore his innovative approach to composition and form. In these paintings, nothing was random, as the artist rearranged the objects in his studio to create unique compositions. His work in still life painting, along with that of other artists, played a significant role in the development of modern art. Another notable artist in the realm of still life painting is Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), renowned for the intense realism of his large-scale religious and mythological works, as well as his volatile character.
- Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder (1573-1621)—Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder was one of the pioneers of Dutch still life painting. He was the son of the artist Ambrosius Bosschaert II, who trained him. Ambrosius began his career by painting rare flowers in botanical gardens and creating drawings for the botanist Carolus Clusius. Later, he used scientific drawings to compose his paintings.
- Clara Peeters (1594-1657)—Clara Peeters was one of the few female painters actively practising in 17th-century Europe. While there is no evidence of her background, scholars believe the artist was a student of Osias Beert, a famous still life artist from Antwerp.
- Jacob Van Es (1596-1666) - Over his career, Jacob Van Es created many still life scenes featuring sensible food or flower arrangements.
- Francisco Goya (1746-1828) - Francisco de Goya's expressive paintings marked the development of future art movements as he introduced dark psychological and political themes in his compositions.
- Henri Fantin-Latour (1836-1904) - Henri Fantin-Latour lived during the advent of Impressionism, but he remained faithful to the Realist tradition initiated by Courbet.
Beginner Still Life Painting
Beginner still life painting steps are
- Pick three objects. Consider size, shape, texture, and contrast between them.
- Arrange them, be it stacked, draped, hung, or scattered, and determine the background.
- Capture it. Play and fix light, shadow, and material before you sketch, paint, or photograph.
- Still Life Painting Meaning
The term "still life" derives from the Dutch word "stilleven," which was coined in the 17th century as still life began to expand across Europe. The most prominent attribute of still life is the artistic depiction of an arrangement of inanimate objects, such as fruits, flowers, shells, books, jewellery, instruments, glasses, insects, and skulls.
Acrylic Still Life Painting
- Acrylic paints were developed in the 1940s as a painting medium that combined the properties of water media and oil painting. They are versatile and can be painted on any non-greasy surface, such as paper, primed or unprimed canvas, and Masonite board.
- Acrylic paints can sometimes look unnatural, while the texture of the paint on the canvas differs. Oil paints typically look very smooth. The difference in appearance between the two may be a reason why most professional artists tend to choose to work with oil paints over acrylics.
Famous Still Life Painting
Some of the most famous still life painting artists are Michaël Borremans, Fernando Botero, Jan Breughel the Elder, Caravaggio, Paul Cézanne, and Robert Douglas Hunter.
- Michaël Borremans is a Belgian artist best known for his strongly conceptual and neo-surrealist paintings. He rendered it in a traditional manner reminiscent of the Old Masters, creating an anachronism within the painting in terms of form and substance.
- Fernando Botero is one of the most celebrated artists of his generation. He is a master of still life, known for his signature visual language, in which he seems to inflate his figures into chubby, rounded subjects.
- Jan Breughel the Elder (1568-1625) painted a still life featuring a selection of very rare and exotic flowers with different flowering periods, all blooming simultaneously in the same vase—not only showcasing his unique skill but also his extraordinary knowledge as an early modern natural scientist.
- The early Baroque master Caravaggio's fidelity to light and form is wonderful. He painted a basket of fruit glowing with golden light.
- Still Life with Bottle of Liqueur, 1888-89 by Paul Cézanne, is one of the most famous works.
- Still Life with Sand and Shells by Robert Douglas Hunter depicted a sense of calm and harmonious colours and object sizes; Hunter described his work as "little tunes.
Contemporary Still Life Painting
Still life painting has remained a preferred genre among artists throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Contemporary artists continue to explore new themes, styles, and techniques within this genre, producing works that range from traditional and realistic to the diverse styles characteristic of today’s still life artists.
Presently, still life paintings can be found in museums, galleries, and private collections worldwide, showcasing the enduring appeal and versatility of the timeless genre.
The representation of objects with dual characteristics defines contemporary still life art. They are inanimate and are part of daily life.
Many artists seize and push it to its paroxysm, even to the point of bias. Thus, the ultra-modernism of the objects represented is a radical reappropriation of the still life style. It dusts off the artistic genre and polishes it with a contemporary brushstroke, sometimes humorously, sometimes nastily.
The painter Amy Nelder employs this approach in her contemporary "pop trompe l'oeil" works. Using imagery from our consumer society – such as commercial cereal boxes, household products, and even superwoman figurines – she hijacks, ridicules, and glorifies this aspect of daily life.
Modern still life paintings are often defined by the representation of objects with a double characteristic. Contemporary still life artists, inspired by 20th-century pop culture, the "found art" mentality, and New Realism, push the traditionally narrow boundaries of this genre to include elements like technology, media, and photography.
Alexander Volkov is the present-day master of realism. His favorite device is the interplay of light and shadow, which lends mood and narrative to each piece.
Eric Christensen is a watercolour hyperrealist artist. Paintings like "Shades of Summer" by Eric Christensen, an original watercolour on paper, employ a patented technique to achieve the look and feel of a high-definition photograph.
How To Set Up a Still Life?
To Set Up a Still Life –
1. Gather the necessary materials - Before we begin, gather the necessary materials, such as canvas, oil or acrylic paints, brushes, a palette, and a palette knife for mixing colors, as well as a still life setup.
2. Set up a balance – Create a lightbox that considers the lighting in your workspace and the overall atmosphere. Set up the cardboard box or backdrop and good lighting. To set up the lighting for your studio, consider using a single source of light, preferably positioned to illuminate your objects from the side. Proper lighting is crucial to a successful piece, as it can enhance or detract from a composition.
3. Choosing the Right Brushes and Colors - Color is another important part of a well-composed still life painting. Choosing objects with thought to their colour and the way that colour interacts with the rest of the composition is a crucial part of composing your still life painting.
What Is Still Life in Art?
There are four main types of still life art: Flower Pieces, Banquet or Breakfast Pieces, Animal Pieces, and Symbolic Paintings.
Flower Pieces—The first category of still life art is Flower Pieces. These artworks focus on bouquets or vases in full bloom. Their vibrant and colourful nature brings a sense of freshness and vitality to any space.
Banquet or Breakfast Pieces- The second type of still life art is Banquet or Breakfast Pieces. These artworks depict arrangements of food and household items. The artist must render the textures and colours of different food items, as well as the shine of glassware or the texture of table linens, to make the paintings look realistic and enticing.
Animal Pieces—The third category, Animal Pieces, features animals, both living and dead. These pieces can bring a sense of nature and wilderness into your home.
Symbolic Paintings -The fourth is the Symbolic Paintings. This category uses different objects to convey deeper meanings or narratives. A typical example is vanitas paintings, which can provoke thought and conversation, making them ideal for spaces where you entertain guests.
How To Paint a Still Life?
Step 1: Begin by painting the background and foreground first. It is more practical to paint objects from back to front, as it is technically easier to paint the edges of any object over the previous ones.
Step 2: Begin the still life painting's shading by creating an underpainting of the background and foreground using flat areas of color. Be sure to slightly overlap the edges of all adjacent still-life objects.
Step 3: Apply the first layer of dark tones and blend using a soft sable brush. Ensure that you overlap the edges of any underpainted color to avoid leaving gaps that could be difficult to fix later.
Step 4: Increase the intensity of the color in the still life paintings by adding a second, thin glaze. Use as many glazes as necessary to achieve the desired depth of tone. The translucent quality achieved by layering thin coatings of transparent paint adds vibrant depth to your colors.
Step 5: Unify the background tones and apply the first layer of dark tones. Use a final glaze to merge and balance both glazed and unglazed areas of the background. Then, apply the first layer of dark tone to the foreground using a thin, transparent glaze, stippling and blending with a soft, stable brush.
Step 6: Complete the painting by adding shadows, refining halftones and light colors, and applying a white glaze to simulate reflected light. Sometimes, you may need to lighten specific areas, which requires a thin glaze mixed with white to increase opacity.
Step 7: Assess your painting. Adjust the colors, values, and details as needed. Refine the shape of the apple and incorporate any additional elements to enhance the still life composition.
Renaissance Still Life Paintings Vs Abstract Still Life Paintings
During the Medieval and Renaissance periods, artists painted flowers and inanimate objects in the borders of illuminated manuscripts with increasing skill. The Hours of Catherine of Cleves, likely created in Utrecht around 1440, is an ornate example of this trend, with the artist constructing a creative collection of natural subjects within evocative frames.
In 1504, Italian Renaissance artist Jacopo de' Barbari painted a still life featuring a partridge and a Gauntlet. Likely symbolic of death and war, the painting is the earliest surviving example from modern times of a vertically oriented small oil-on-limewood panel still life in which objects manifest in much greater dimensionality.
Around the same time, German Renaissance painter Albrecht Dürer painted The Large Piece of Turf (1503), which is praised for its naturalistic balance of chaos and order.
Abstract still life paintings are one of our most popular forms of abstract art. Abstract art may challenge the perception of reality, but that's precisely what makes it so captivating—abstract art sparks personal interpretation.
Hilary Pecis's vibrant still life is filled with art-historical references and art itself. Painting monographs of Alice Neel, Henry Taylor, Georgia O'Keeffe, and others, as well as Lari Pittman's line, line the tables and bookshelves of her compositions, indicating the artist's muses. The artist outlines her forms many times in varied, bold hues, giving them radiant, vibrational auras.
Pop art, Cubism, and abstraction inform the flat colours, geometry, "off-kilter perspective," and playfulness in Coulis's paintings. Coulis said she's experimenting with making her paintings more abstract, pushing them to the very edge of what she calls "still life–ness."
Who Is the Father Of Still Life Painting?
The French painter Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) is regarded as one of the most influential artists of his time. Known as a Post-Impressionist, he is often referred to as "the father of modern art" because he demonstrated the freedom that art could embrace.
Throughout his career, Cézanne researched a remarkable range of subjects, including landscapes, portraits, figurative scenes, and still lifes. He is widely acknowledged as a key figure in the development of modern still life paintings and a key forerunner of Cubism. His countless still life paintings are particularly noteworthy, and they continue to fascinate audiences.
Who Invented the Still Life Painting?
One of the best-known examples of early painted food caches is found in the Tomb of Menna, dating from around 1422 to 1390 BC, in the Theban Necropolis on the west bank of the Nile. The Ancient Greeks and Romans created mosaics and painted frescoes depicting food items.
During the Middle Ages, most still life artworks were connected with biblical allegories or iconography. Still life became a substantial principle in the experiments of photography inventors Jacques-Louis-Mandé Daguerre and William Henry Fox Talbot.
Which Idea Is an Important Component of European Still Life Painting?
A vanitas painting is a type of artwork that uses still life as a metaphor for the inevitability of death. It is an important component of European still life painting, where the idea of food as vanitas or still life paintings of highly detailed hunting trophies and exotic animal carcasses was in very high demand, and it was depicted alongside other food items.
One of the more prominent symbols in vanitas still life paintings is the skull, which serves as a powerful reminder of the certainty of death. Insects may be included among representations of flowers and food, while a violin symbolises the passage of time. Candles depict the inevitability of time's passage, and flutes are associated with the intoxication of Bacchus, as well as the sins of lust and laziness.
In vanitas still life paintings, gold and silver objects often heighten the tension between materialism and morality.
