Activity: Classroom Still Life

Many artists throughout time have created still lifes. Because fruit and flowers don’t breathe or move, they make great practice objects for people learning to draw, paint, sculpt, or photograph. Imagine learning for the first time using a person, who breathes and stretches and needs to walk around! Fruit and flowers also contain a huge variety of shapes, textures, and colors.  

 In small groups: Use what you’ve learned about the genre of still life and your own criteria for great art. Create a still life grouping of your own, either in the classroom or at home. Remember the main characteristics of a still life, then draw your still life. If drawing isn’t your thing, you can use another art form like photography.

• The setting is indoors, on a table or with an otherwise bland background that does not distract from the subject.
• The objects in the painting are not alive, with the occasional exception of birds or insects.
• The objects should represent abundance and success.
• Think about what each item in the still life represents. Arrange them carefully in a way that is beautiful for you.
• After you create your still life work of art, compare each group member’s interpretation of the same subject.