Artists have been creating still-life paintings of ordinary objects for thousands of years. It might be hard to believe, but still-life paintings have played an important role in history. Like windows to the past, these paintings documented everyday life before the invention of the camera.
Commonplace items in a still life are generally artificial objects that do not move, such as vases, household items and books, hence the word “still.” They also include objects that are natural, such as flowers, animals and food, therefore representing “life.”
The joy of painting a still life is in creating your own small universe. Still-life painting gives the artist more freedom in the arrangement of elements within a composition than in landscape or portrait painting.
Often, still-life paintings have a deeper meaning. For instance, in many sixteenth- and seventeenth-century paintings, a cut flower or decaying fruit symbolized mortality. The “vanitas” painting style held a symbolic message. Today, with the proper use of lighting and composition, artists can transform ordinary objects into an exciting work of art.
Still-life painting is a wonderful discipline for any serious artist. But too often we struggle with lackluster arrangements. The following pages will help inspire you and take your still-life paintings to the next level!