4 Things to Consider When Creating a Still-Life

Hey, guys! Welcome to my first ever blog post. I'm so thankful you're here. Let's get started!

Are you an aspiring artist looking for a few pointers on how to set up a still-life with an interesting focus? I'm here to help ya out. I'll be sharing four things to consider, that I use when setting up my own still lives at home.

Amber Grace, Oil on Media Paper, 5.5"x 7.5", Rachel Bethanie

Ever wonder what draws your attention to a still life? Like, why does this one thing stick out more than the rest of the objects? Let's dive into what causes this and how you can make it happen in your own work!

1) What is Important to You?

"You could choose any number of compositional elements that are important to you, it simply depends on your personal interests."

What about your art are you most interested in? For myself, I love drapery and dramatic lighting. I love the way light casts shadows over the folds of fabric to create more intense contrast. Maybe you don't like contrast as much and want things to be a bit more subtle. If this is the case, you might look for smooth and flat items with equal lighting exposure so the lighting isn't as dramatic. If you could care less about lighting, ask yourself what textures you like. Do you like the reflectivity of a glass bottle, the individual color shapes that it produces and the challenge that that presents? Cuz me too. You could choose any number of compositional elements that are important to you, it simply depends on your personal interests. There are no rules in art so make your own!

2) Let's Look at Some Examples, Shall We?

Research is so helpful when it comes to discovering what is important to you. Let's find some of these elements in compositions that are already created so you can visualize what we just talked about. The purpose of showing you different styles of composition is to help inspire you and help you discover what you do and don't like.

First, I'll show you a composition with drapery and dramatic lighting.

Surrender to the muse

Oil (material and size unknown)

Ruth Phipps

This next artwork is for those who like bright colors and/or unique perspectives.

The Gift

Oil on panel

14×18

Janet Rickus

Next is an artwork featuring high reflectivity.

Still

Medium and size unknown

Elena Madden

3) Break Up Your Composition

Let's talk textures. In order to create contrast within your composition, you gotta break it up a bit with textures and differing heights and widths of objects. In the image below, the artist Kelli Folsom does this by choosing apples that are much smaller than the jar in both width and height. She also decided to add some greenery to the jar to add a different texture. The leaves and apples both have a softer texture than the hard jar. Due to their soft textures, they are also much smoother than the jar.

Ginger Jar and Apples

Oil on Panel

12"x 16"

Kelli Folsom

4) Work in Three's.

Now that you've determined what is most important to you and you know what textures and sizes of objects your interested in, I recommend working in three's. What I mean by this is find 3 objects you want to use to create a triangle. The image below creates triangulation within the composition. Triangulation, when it comes to art, just means there are triangles made up of implied lines (lines your eye makes that isn't physically there) throughout the composition.

Three Fruits, Oil on Canvas, 12" x 9", Michael Newberry

Now it's Your Turn!

Try one of these out on your next painting adventure and let me know what works for you. Leave a comment below and tell me what you're excited to try. Please tag me @_forgoodnesssake._ on instagram so I can see your finished paintings! I would love to see what you created using these tips. Your feedback helps me know what you guys want to see and keeps me inspired to write more blogs! I'm so thankful for you. You are loved!

Much love,

Rachel Bethanie