Marcus Chen
Still life is a genre of art that has been used throughout history, from ancient Egyptian tomb paintings to modern art. It is a way to create something extraordinary out of the ordinary. Artists can use still life as a means to express a narrative or symbolic message, or to evoke an emotion. To put meaning into a still life painting, one must first consider the colour scheme and the arrangement of objects to evoke a certain emotion or convey a message. The lighting and placement of objects are also important factors in creating a sense of focus and purpose. Artists should also consider the subject matter and how the objects are arranged to create a visual narrative.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Planning | Spend time planning your still life in your mind, honing the mental image to clarity. |
| Focus | Create a focal point or centre of interest with the most detail. Simplify everything else. |
| Intent | Enter your painting with confident intent and mental clarity. |
| Transcend the ordinary | Avoid a literal picture of objects. Put the scene through the unique and personalized filter of your mind. |
| Composition | Consider the arrangement of colours and values in an image and the path followed by the movement of the viewer’s eye. |
| Lighting | Use lighting to control the composition and direct the viewer's eye. |
| Colour scheme | Work out a colour scheme to evoke an emotion, then include particular objects to reinforce that meaning. |
| Symbolic objects | Include symbolic objects to convey a message or narrative. |
| Positive message | Offer a respite from negativity by focusing on the more subtle and contemplative side of the narrative spectrum. |
| Complexity | Decide on the level of complexity, from a single object to multiple objects. |
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What You'll Learn
Choose objects carefully and intentionally
Choosing the right objects is a critical step in creating a meaningful still life painting. The objects you select will determine the narrative and emotional impact of your artwork. Here are some factors to consider when choosing objects for your composition:
Narrative and Symbolism
The objects you choose can convey a symbolic narrative that adds depth and meaning to your painting. For example, in ancient Greece and Rome, still life paintings often included food, books, kitchen items, flowers, and symbolic objects like chalices or swords as part of a visual story. Similarly, memento mori and vanitas paintings in the medieval period used objects such as skulls, extinguished candles, and hourglasses to explore themes of death and fragility. Consider what story you want your painting to tell and select objects that support that narrative.
Personal Connection
Selecting objects that hold personal significance can infuse your painting with meaning. These could be items that inspire you, hold sentimental value, or represent a specific period in your life. By weaving your personal stories and experiences into the composition, you create a unique and intimate connection with your artwork.
Composition and Arrangement
The arrangement of objects within the painting is crucial to its visual appeal and overall message. Consider the size, shape, texture, and contrast between the objects. Play with different compositions, such as stacking, draping, or scattering objects, and think about the background and lighting to create depth and emphasis. You can also use the rule of thirds or triangle composition to guide the viewer's eye and create a sense of balance and flow.
Color Scheme and Emotion
Before combining objects with personal or symbolic meaning, it's essential to establish a color scheme that evokes the desired emotion. Colors have a profound impact on the mood and atmosphere of a painting. Consider using complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) for contrast, analogous colors (side by side on the wheel) for harmony, or triads (equidistant hues) for a vibrant effect. The interplay of colors will influence the overall tone and feeling conveyed by your composition.
Simplicity or Complexity
Decide on the level of complexity you want to achieve. A simple composition may feature a single object, while a more intricate arrangement could involve multiple objects and elements. The number of objects and the level of detail you include will impact the overall balance and focus of the painting.
By carefully selecting objects and considering their arrangement, symbolism, and emotional impact, you can create a meaningful still life painting that transcends the ordinary and conveys a powerful message.
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Use colour to evoke emotion
Colour theory is an important consideration when creating a still life painting with meaning and purpose. The painter Maurice Denis once said, "Remember that a painting — before being a battle horse, a nude woman or an anecdote of some sort — is essentially a flat surface covered with colours, put together in a certain order."
Before you begin, it is important to first establish a colour scheme to evoke an emotion and then include particular objects to reinforce that meaning. For example, if you want to evoke a sense of anxiety and panic, deep, opposite colours can be used, such as in the famous painting The Scream by Edvard Munch. On the other hand, if you want to convey a sense of sadness and despair, blue and grey are often used, as seen in Picasso's 'blue period' after the death of his friend.
You can also use complementary colours, which are colours directly opposite each other on the colour wheel, such as red and green. Analogous colours, which are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel, like yellow and green, can also be used to create a sense of harmony. Triad colours, which are three hues equidistant from one another on the colour wheel, forming a perfect triangle, such as violet, orange and green, can add variety and interest to your painting.
The placement of colours relative to each other is also important. You can juxtapose colour opposites or play with the proportions of warm versus cool colours to create a sense of balance or tension in your painting. For example, in Pierre Bonnard's paintings, he often uses complementary colours blue and orange, which create a sense of harmony, while a touch of yellow placed centrally can help to rest the eye and provide a break from the intensity of the other colours. Matisse also used colour as a tool to tell stories within his paintings, such as in his 'Red Interior', which evokes a sense of excitement and energy.
The way you depict objects in your still life can also contribute to the overall effect of your painting. You can use sharp realism, soft focus, or abstraction to create a specific atmosphere. For example, you can give your foreground forms hard edges to create the effect of a colourful mosaic or sunlight shining through coloured stained glass.
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Focus on detail
To create meaning in a still life painting, focus is key. The viewer's eye should be directed to a specific area before being allowed to wander. This can be achieved by isolating detail to specific areas. The focal point should be the most detailed aspect of the painting, with everything else simplified.
The amount of canvas space around objects is critical to the focus within the painting. A small amount of space around objects will focus the viewer on them as the primary subject. The proximity of the subject to the edges of the canvas can either intensify or diminish the importance of the subject. For example, too much space can direct the viewer's eye off the canvas, while too little space can cause the image to feel cramped and awkward.
Edges are a useful tool for creating focus. The eye is attracted to sharp edges, so reserve these for where you want to create focus. Conversely, objects with lost or mysterious edges can also be made the focus if everything else is painted in stark reality.
When painting reflective surfaces such as glass or metal, lay in the dark tones first. Add highlights using white paint or pencil, and add grey for mid-tones. Keep in mind where the light source is coming from and check your objects for light, dark, and mid-tones as you work.
To add dimension, use techniques such as scumbling, glazing, and broken lines to add colour. Flat colours or big blocks of colour will look two-dimensional. These techniques will give your objects a sense of form and dimension.
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Create a narrative
Creating a narrative in a still life painting involves imbuing ordinary objects with a new meaning. Artists can use objects to tell a story or convey a message to the viewer. The objects in a still life painting can be arranged to hold larger statements than just themselves when put together.
To create a narrative, artists should start with an idea and carefully choose the objects they want to include in their painting. These objects can be the artist's favourite toys, foods, or objects with interesting shapes and colours. They can also be objects that tell a small piece of the artist's story, such as a gift from a grandmother or a special shell found on a beach. Artists can also choose objects that are meaningful to the culture they are from. For example, in ancient Egypt, highly stylised images of objects useful in the afterlife, such as chalices and swords, were commonly interwoven with images of workers, kings, and gods.
Once the objects are chosen, the artist should put everything on a table and move the objects around until they get a desired arrangement. The placement of the objects relative to each other and to the pictorial frame of the canvas has a huge impact on the balance within the composition. Artists should also consider the lighting and whether they want to use a directional light to reveal form or ambient indirect light to emphasise flat shapes.
After finalising the composition, artists can begin painting. It is recommended to start with neutral ochre (earth tones) and gestural marks before incorporating more colours. Artists can also choose to use acrylic or oil paint, but if using oil paint, it is important to prime the painting surface first so that the oils in the paint do not rot the substrate over time.
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Consider lighting
When it comes to putting meaning into a still life painting, lighting plays a crucial role. Here are some detailed considerations and techniques to enhance your still life painting with lighting:
Firstly, it is essential to understand the impact of lighting on the overall composition. The arrangement and lighting work hand in hand to bring your painting to life. Take time to experiment with different lighting setups before beginning to paint. This will help you create a beautiful pattern of lights and darks, enhancing the final artwork.
The lighting source you choose is important. Natural light from a window can be used, but it may not be practical as the light shifts throughout the day. Artificial lighting provides more control. A bright, narrow-beam floodlight, such as a halogen bulb, can be used to create strong directional lighting, resulting in good contrast and shadows. If using artificial lighting, ensure it is the right colour temperature. A 5000K light is ideal for overall lighting and colour accuracy, while a mix of 4000K and 6500K lights can also be used, but may be less comfortable for the eyes.
To create shadows, a desk lamp can be used as a modelling light. Position it to cast shadows and decide on the composition. The lamp should overpower any deep shadows caused by room lighting, which should be softer and less distinct. If using a bright light source, create a shield, such as a cardboard barrier, to block the direct view of the light source.
When painting, consider the light and shadow on each object. Separate the light and dark areas, and remember that half-tones belong to the light family. Keep the shadow side of objects sufficiently dark to avoid a stark transition to the cast shadow. You can use pastels to add highlights and suggest transmitted light, warming cast shadows to imply the light passing through.
Lastly, don't be afraid to experiment with lighting. Try using complementary colours or leaving drips and splatters visible to add interest and meaning to your still life painting.
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Frequently asked questions
Choose objects that inspire you and that you have a personal connection to. Consider their size, shape, texture, and contrast between them. You can also select objects that hold symbolic meaning or that can be arranged to make a larger statement.
The arrangement of objects in a still life painting can be simple or complex. Consider whether you want to focus on a single object or a group of objects, and whether they will be stacked, draped, hung, or scattered. Play with lighting and shadows to create a sense of depth and mood.
The focal point of your painting should be the most detailed aspect. Simplify the rest of the painting to draw attention to this area. Ensure that the focal point is in the correct proportion to the entire painting so that it stands out and creates a sense of focus.
Colour is an important factor in creating an emotional response and evoking a particular mood in your painting. Consider using complementary colours (colours directly opposite each other on the colour wheel) or analogous colours (colours adjacent to each other on the colour wheel) to create a specific effect.
Still life paintings can convey meaning through the choice of objects and their arrangement. Consider the symbolic value of the objects and how they can be used to tell a story or convey a message. The use of light and shadow can also add depth and subtlety to the narrative of your painting.
