How to teach still life
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This document provides instructions and examples for creating a still life drawing. It discusses choosing objects and arranging their composition, with tips on using negative space and achieving symmetrical or asymmetrical balance. Rules for good composition are outlined, and the key elements of shading - light source, highlight, shade, reflected light, and cast shadow - are defined. Exercises guide the reader in practicing compositional techniques and rendering shading on a sphere.
![ Step 3: Balance your composition.
Symmetrical balance is when the
composition is even on both sides. If you
folded it in half both sides would be equal.
Symmetrical balance is more difficult
because it must be precise or the eye will
reject it.
Asymmetrical balance is when one side
dominates but balance is still achieved.
Asymmetrical balance can be easier to
arrange but still requires that you balance
the elements of your still life with the
negative space of the surrounding area.
Example of
Symmetrical
Balance
Still Life with Peaches,
1881
Auguste Renoir (French,
1841–1919)
Bequest of Stephen C.
Clark, 1960 (61.101.12)
Example of
Asymmetrical
Balance
Henri [Ignace-Henri-
Jean-Théodore] Fantin-
Latour (French, 1836-
1904), A Plate of Apples,
1861, oil on canvas, 21.0 x
26.4 cm, Tate Gallery,
London. See Batignolles
Group.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/howtoteachstilllife-150930055437-lva1-app6891/85/How-to-teach-still-life-6-320.jpg)
How to teach still life
- 2. A still life is a group of inanimate objects. These are objects that are chosen for a specific reason and arranged in a certain way. Examples of objects that could be included in a still life? Still Life with Jar, Cup, and Apples, ca. 1877 Paul Cézanne (French, 1839–1906) H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929 (29.100.66)
- 3. Composition is the arrangement or placement of objects. The composition is not just how the objects of a still life are put together but how you put them on your paper. How do you use the space on your paper? Negative Space, the blank or empty space, is just as important as the space that is drawn. Flowers by a Stone Vase, 1786 Peter Faes (Flemish, 1750–1814) Bequest of Catherine D. Wentworth, 1948 (48.187.737)
- 4. Step 1: Use a view finder or your hands to help you focus on the images you want to include in your drawing. This helps to block out the surrounding area and really focus on the items you are looking at.
- 5. Step 2: Decide if you want a closed composition or an open composition. Closed compositions have all elements completely contained in your composition. Open compositions have items extending outside the visual panel. Both of these can make good compositions it just depends on the look you are going for. So try them both out. Example of Closed Composition Still Life with Peaches, 1881 Auguste Renoir (French, 1841–1919) Bequest of Stephen C. Clark, 1960 (61.101.12) Example of Open Composition Pierre Auguste Renoir, Peaches and Almonds, 1901, oil on canvas, 31.1 x 41.3 cm, Tate Gallery, London.
- 6. Step 3: Balance your composition. Symmetrical balance is when the composition is even on both sides. If you folded it in half both sides would be equal. Symmetrical balance is more difficult because it must be precise or the eye will reject it. Asymmetrical balance is when one side dominates but balance is still achieved. Asymmetrical balance can be easier to arrange but still requires that you balance the elements of your still life with the negative space of the surrounding area. Example of Symmetrical Balance Still Life with Peaches, 1881 Auguste Renoir (French, 1841–1919) Bequest of Stephen C. Clark, 1960 (61.101.12) Example of Asymmetrical Balance Henri [Ignace-Henri- Jean-Théodore] Fantin- Latour (French, 1836- 1904), A Plate of Apples, 1861, oil on canvas, 21.0 x 26.4 cm, Tate Gallery, London. See Batignolles Group.
- 7. Rules for good composition : 1. More on bottom than top 2. Objects are not separated they overlap, touch and interrelate 3. Don’t start at the bottom. Use the whole paper and figure out what is going to be the best placement of objects. Édouard Manet (French, 1832-1883), Peonies, 1864-65, oil on canvas, 23 3/8 x 13 7/8 inches (59.4 x 35.2 cm), Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY.
- 8. One key to making objects look realistic is creating shading. There are several key things you need to know about shading: Light Source Highlight ShadeReflected Light Cast Shadow
- 9. Shading Exercise: Recreate the shading on the sphere below. After you are done label the highlight, shadow, cast shadow and reflected light.
- 10. With your group mates, carefully go through the cool items available. Choose 4-5 objects for your table Arrange the items in an interesting way Draw them on your paper using any technique we’ve used in class so far (contour line, varying quality of line, value – hatch, crosshatch, scumble, stipple) Make your drawing look interesting with all elements of shading.