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A still life focuses on a group of objects that are inanimate and never move throughout the course of your drawing. Traditionally, they include.
#10 Still Life SeriesArtist: Tom WesselmannYear: 1962 One of the Still Life paintings by Tom WesselmannPop Art Movement emerged in the 1950s and it used recognizable imagery from popular culture. Among the most popular works in pop art is Tom Wesselmann’s Still Life series. His still lifes portray elements of the modern world rather that the fruits and vegetables of previous generation artists of the genre. This work (Still Life #30) is a combination of painting, sculpture and collage of commercial labels Tom found on the street.#9 Vanitas with Violin and Glass BallArtist: Pieter ClaeszYear: 1628 Vanitas with Violin and Glass Ball (1628) – Pieter ClaeszActive during the Dutch Golden Age, Pieter Claesz was among the foremost still-life painters of his time. He is famous for vanitas or still lifes which contain symbols of death or change as a reminder of their inevitability. This is his most famous painting.
It depicts a plethora of objects most interestingly a glass sphere in the background which shows Claesz at the easel, serving as a self-portrait.#8 Basket of FruitArtist: CaravaggioYear: c. 1599 Basket of Fruit (1599) – CaravaggioCaravaggio was a pioneer of realistic depiction and dramatic use of lighting in paintings. He applied his naturalism to still life and hence Basket of Fruit stands out from previous paintings in the genre. Apart from its apparently photographic portrayal, the painting is noted for the spoiled fruits which appear to have been eaten by insects. Whether the master painted what was available or was he trying to convey a deeper meaning is debated. #7 Natura Morta (Still Life)Artist: Giorgio MorandiYear: 1956 Natura Morta (1951) – Giorgio MorandiGiorgio Morandi was the leading still life painter of the twentieth century and among the greatest Italian artists of his era.
His still lifes are known for their unsophisticated subject matter, muted colors and simplicity of execution. Marandi used the same title Natura Morta, which is the Italian term for still life, for all his works in the genre. The above painting is one of his many famous works known for their poetic quality and intensity.#6 The Basket of ApplesArtist: Paul CezanneYear: 1895 The Basket of Apples (1895) – Paul CezanneApart from a brief period in 17th century Northern Europe, still life was a neglected genre despite the efforts of Jean-Baptiste Chardin. It was Paul Cezanne who almost single handedly took it to heights that it became a popular subject for future artists including Picasso, Matisse, Morandi and Braque.
This painting is a shining example of his artwork in which he used techniques like two viewpoints which were to change the direction of art. The painting is also noted for its unbalanced parts like the titled bottle, inclined basket and the fruits which are about to fall.#5 Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a RoseArtist: Francisco de ZurbaranYear: 1633 Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose (1633) – Francisco de ZurbaranFrancisco de Zurbaran is more famous for his religious paintings but he was also one of the most influential still life painters. This painting is considered a masterwork of the genre and is the only canvas ever signed and dated by the Spanish master. The three objects in the painting are placed carefully and illuminate against a dark background.
It is widely believed that the painting has religious symbolism.#4 The Ray (La raie)Artist: Jean-Baptiste-Simeon ChardinYear: 1728 The Ray (1728) – Jean-Baptiste-Simeon ChardinConsidered an all-time great in still life painting, Jean-Baptiste Chardin is credited with advancing still life such that it would challenge other established genres. The Ray was his masterpiece through which he allured the future generations of artists to still life painting. The painting contains several novel elements most prominently the introduction of a living being in the form of a cat. It was widely studied, admired and copied by future artists including Henri Matisse.
#3 Violin and CandlestickArtist: Georges BraqueYear: 1910 Violin and Candlestick (1910) – Georges BraqueGeorges Braque, along with Picasso, co-founded the dominant art style of the twentieth century, Cubism. Although he began with landscapes, he shifted to still lifes later. This masterpiece is an example of Analytic Cubism, the first phase of Cubism which was short but influential.
The elements in the painting are depicted in simple forms using multiple point-perspectives and it is painted in monochromatic style, i.e. Different tones of a single color are used.#2 Rideau, Cruchon et CompotierArtist: Paul CezanneYear: 1894 Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier (Jug, Curtain and Fruit Bowl) (1894) – Paul CezannePaul Cezanne is considered the greatest master of still life painting and this work is his most celebrated painting in the genre. Technically it is noted for the double perspective which Cezanne’s creates while visually it captivates the viewer with the beautifully painted unbalanced parts. Cezanne’s paintings of this type are considered a prelude to several art types of the twentieth century including Picasso’s Cubism. As of 2105, this painting is the most expensive still life ever sold at an auction.#1 Sunflowers SeriesArtist: Vincent van GoghYear: 1888 Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers (1888) – Vincent Van GoghVincent Van Gogh is considered a master of still life paintings and his series of paintings on ‘sunflowers’ rank among the most famous still life paintings ever created.
The paintings are well known for depicting the natural beauty of the flowers and for their vibrant colors. The above painting which is titled Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers smashed the auction record for a painting when it was sold to a Japanese investor for almost $40 million in March 1987.
Two years ago, Anna Breininger and Kristin Cammermeyer began hosting still life drawing sessions with other artists. “In a climate in which we are inundated with information and over-scheduled, we thought it imperative to create a space to decompress from our anxieties,” Breininger and Cammermeyer told Hyperallergic over email.
What began as a gathering in an artist studio soon expanded to larger settings, such as the Other Places Art Fair, Spring/Break Art Show, various Los Angeles art galleries, and even a casual session at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. The two artists call these events Be Still Life Drawing Sessions.
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Now seems like a great time to “be still” with a pencil and paper, to find purpose and solace through drawing. During the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine period, Breininger and Cammermeyer will be hosting their drawing sessions via Zoom every Sunday at 12pm (PDT). “The project is bringing people a lot of joy and stress relief,” the artists reflected after having already hosted two sessions.
For the Zoom session, Cammermeyer sets up a large still life in her studio and focuses in on different details. In an in-person session, participants would normally build the still life collaboratively; since that isn’t possible, online participants are also welcome to set up their own still lifes to give them more choice. That said, Cammermeyer’s most recent setup looks like a lot of fun, bursting with color and eclectic props like ceramic cats and dolphins. While the artists generally like to incorporate flowers into the still lifes, they’ve veered away from purchasing these and are instead “incorporating living plants and foods that can be utilized post-session.” After the session, participants are welcome to share the images of their drawings to be posted on Be Still Life‘s Instagram.
If you wish to participate in the upcoming Sunday, April 5 session (or any other future session), direct message Be Still Life on Instagram with your email address and they’ll send you the link to the drawing session. Be Still Life is also encouraging participants who can afford it to donate $5–10 to a charity of their choice per session.
When: Sunday, April 5, 12pm (PDT), and every future Sunday during quarantine
Where: Zoom (direct message BeStillLife_LA for instructions)
Where: Zoom (direct message BeStillLife_LA for instructions)
More info at BeStillLife_LA
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