What?• Still life is a genre consists of
an arrangement of inanimate objects that would typically be seen in a house. Flowers, food, pencils, and fabric are regularly seen objects in a still life painting.
• Still life images are controlled completely by the artist. They create the composition, versus with landscapes, the land determines the composition.
History of Still Life• Still life drawings were found
carved into the sides of Egyptian tombs. They became extremely popular in the 16th with classical painting.
• Still Life consisted of allegorical themes (visual messages), and religious themes. The history of comic strips derived from still lifes because artists of old loved to throw in sexual innuendos.
Artists to Recognize
•Juan Sanchez Cotan
•Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder
•James Peale
•Antoine Vollon
•Edouard Manet
•Paul CezannePyramid of Skulls by Paul
Cezanne
How to Make...
•The beauty of still life is the artist controls the composition: the arrangement of all the elements.
1. Choose objects that interest you.
2. Choose a fabric that compliments the objects.
3. Arrange on a table.
4. Think about: focal point, splitting image in thirds, rhythm, and colors.
5. Take photograph of your set up and use as reference when drawing.
Requirements
•Students will complete a quality still life drawing, using soft pastel, oil pastel, or colored pencils.
•Students will demonstrate an understanding of composition, movement, rhythm, color, and use of chosen medium.
Self Portrait with Expression
•Student will complete a quality self portrait in charcoal demonstrating a firm understanding of value, the medium, and proportion.
•Student’s self portrait shall include expression as well as a background.
Directions
• Students take photo of themselves.
• Print out in 8 1/2 x 11. Can be done in classroom.
• Grid by splitting in fourths.
• Draw using willow and compressed charcoal.
Portrait by Courbet