Setting up a still life for painting isn't a matter of throwing few objects onto a table top and then starting. For a successful still life, you want to put some thought into the choices available to you.Are you going to set up the light to throw strong shadows? What shape of canvas are you going to use and how does this influence the arrangement of the objects? Where are you going to set up the still life and will the viewpoint be from the top, side, or below? Read more in my article How to Set Up a Still Life for Painting.
See Also:
• What is a Still Life?
• How to Set Up a Flower Still Life
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Comments
This is why I like still life painting so much because I am in charge of what I paint. To arrange a landscape painting composition is I would think a lot harder to accomplish.
One thing I always do when setting up a still life is consider the colors of the objects to paint. I often use triadic color schemes, or one with complementary colors. If I paint red apples, then I also use green somewhere in the set-up or the background. I focus on surfaces also, something shiny against something smooth. I look at where the values are. I imagine what is in back of the objects, and the composition as a whole. What is not there is just as important as what is there. Everything relates to everything else.
Regarding still life, I have a question about the size of objects in small numbers in relation to a large canvas. It’s often usual to draw the objects as they are either a little smaller or even more as in miniatures. But I often feel uncomfortable when inadvertently I draw them too big. For example I am working now on February challenge regarding “Bunch of keys”. I am painting them on a bigger canvas than usual. But I have drawn the keys somewhat bigger than they really are as if they nearly belonged to…a giant! Before going any further, is it possible to have some thoughts about this question?
Many thanks.
dear Yover ,
This is an issue that I have come across recently. I may paint an object slightly bigger than actual size and think.. is it OK to do this? my theory is that if my canvas or panel is too large for the subject I compensate by drawing it larger. similarly with a small canvas or panel I will tend to paint the subject smaller than life.
I think it is better to paint something life size or larger but that is something we as Artists can decide using our own creativity and for what reason so as to express the subject more.
It all depends on what is comprised within the frame and if it is pleasing. I think in still- life we can be free to choose and break the rules to our own means.
Thank you kindly Jim Kyle for your helpful and judicious answer.
Well I have decided this afternoon not to alter the size of the objects and will submit the work as it is.We shall see…
To my mind, this is exactly the same embarrassement when I decide to paint a portrait in close up . So I always decide to paint it on a small canvas to be sure that the face won’t be too big .Sometimes I feel like going to the Louvre museum to check with a tape measure the size of the figures and faces (in the foreground) painted by Veronese in his gigantic “Wedding at Cana” in order to truly know if they are taller or not than in reality!