Set up your own art studio at home and create a still life!
A “still life” is an arrangement of objects that don’t move. Artists try out different positions and combinations of objects, then draw or paint the group.
The image to the right is an example of a still life painted by artist Paul Cézanne. He chose to group together a bowl of apples and several vases and jars with a draped white cloth. (You can learn more about this still life by listening to Track #5 of the family podcast.)
Here’s what your family will need to create a still life:
- A studio—some place with a surface for arranging your still life and enough room for you to draw or paint. (Make sure you can set aside at least 30 minutes to work in your studio before it needs to become a kitchen table or family room again!)
- Art supplies:
- paper
- regular graphite pencil
- colored pencils, markers, oil pastels, or paints and brushes
- Still life objects—picking objects for your still life can be a game!
Kids, see if you can find:
- an object that reminds you of nature
- an object that reminds you of someplace you’ve traveled
- 3 round objects
Adults, see if you can find:
- an object that reminds you of being a kid
- an object with your favorite colors
- 3 rectangular objects
You’ll also want:
- a bandana, dish cloth, or other pieces of fabric
- bowl, plate, or other attractive container
Getting started
- Try out different combinations of objects—you don’t need to use all of them at once. Once you have a group of objects you like, try out different arrangements. Do objects look good stacked up high…spread out or close together…or maybe upside?
Other ideas: Check out how Cézanne used the white tablecloth in his still life. He used a technique called “draping”—shaping the fabric to create curves and folds. You can experiment with draping too by adding some fabric to your still life and turning an ordinary piece of cloth into “drapery” for an artistic effect.
- Once you have an arrangement you like, try doing some quick sketches of the group using paper and a regular pencil. What shapes do you notice as you draw your still life? What ways can you find to show different textures?
- When you’re ready, it’s time to work on your final piece. Get out whatever art materials you’ve decided to use—markers, colored pencils, paints, etc.—and a new sheet of paper. Now you can experiment with color, too.
Other ideas: More advanced artists may want to experiment with lighting their still life. Try using a table lamp or flashlight to light your still life from different angles. What happens to the shadows and colors of the objects as you move the light around? See if you can draw or paint some of these lighting effects.
- Find someplace special to show off your finished still life—and try another! Cézanne created hundreds of still life paintings, often using the same objects again and again. Experiment with other ways to paint or draw the group your created, or try out some new arrangements with other objects.
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