High school Art students are oftentimes required to produce still life drawings or paintings inside the confines of a busy classroom. About Art Departments have cupboards crammed full of visually interesting objects that tin can exist used to create still life arrangements. This article lists even so life ideas for teachers or students who are stuck or in demand of inspiration. The collection includes tried and true favourites that accept been used by Fine art teachers for generations, also as more than unusual and contemporary yet life topics.
What is a still life? Here is a definition provided by Wikipedia:
A work of art depicting by and large inanimate bailiwick affair, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or human-made
While senior Art students are commonly free to come up with their own topic or theme (read our article how to come up with bully subject affair for your Fine art project) many centre school or junior high school students are required to work with objects and scenes that meet the following criteria:
Viewable offset-manus
Visually interesting, with a range of different textures, reflections, surfaces and forms
Modest enough to fix up and arrange in the classroom (light, easily moveable)
Able to arranged in different ways, creating original compositions so that multiple heady works can exist created
Durable plenty to exist handled safely past enthusiastic teenagers (without abrupt or unsafe parts, for example)
Able to stored from lesson to lesson without eroding, decaying or breaking (this is non necessary if the still life can be drawn within a single lesson or photographed for completion at a later date)
Appropriate for younger students to view (i.e. not offensive)
This articles includes great piece of work past students too as famous still life artists. It is a work in progress, with many more than ideas to be added over time!
50+ Yet Life Drawing Ideas
Popcorn, every bit in these original still life artworks past Po Yuan (left) and Betty Chen (right), students of Elizabeth Jendek, Thai Chinese International School, Samutprakarn, Thailand:
Although there is a singled-out possibility that a number of however life items might mysteriously 'disappear' during the grade of this lesson, popcorn provides an splendid opportunity for practising the awarding of tone. Completed in charcoal, these large works create a kind of semi-abstracted landscapes and require conscientious attention to calorie-free and shadow.
Crumpled paper bags, such as this piece of work by eighteen year former artist Raegan Koepsel:
Crunched and creased paper bags create dramatic shadows and provide an excellent opportunity to acquire virtually tone. This is a great subject field to describe with charcoal on mid-tone grey or brown newspaper. In this example, the paper numberless have been twisted in different ways and advisedly contrasted with a background of corrugated paper-thin.
Styrofoam cups, as inspired by this activity past the DC Sketchers:
This is an excellent drawing activity to help students understand how to represent ellipses (the oval shape that is visible when a circle is viewed from angle). The hollow truncated cones become surrounded by shadows and beautiful pockets of curving negative space, creating a superb still life drawing lesson. Photo courtesy East City Fine art.
For more nearly drawing ellipses, delight read 11 tips for improving your observational drawing.
Machinery and mechanical parts, such equally sometime sewing machines, disassembled clocks, cogs/wheels and typewriters, inspired past this drawing from Parkway North Loftier Schoolhouse, United States, taught past Art teacher and artist Grant Kniffen:
When the inner workings of mechanical items are exposed, there are often endless opportunities for art-making. In this observational drawing, the complex letter keys, crunched newspaper and detailed ink ribbon contrast the smooth surfaces of the typewriter and tabletop.
Many high school Art projects within New Zealand are based around the beach and coastline. Items such as rope, floats, hooks, anchors, driftwood and line-fishing nets provide an excellent subject field thing for nonetheless life works due to the variety of shapes, forms, patterns and surface textures. The items are usually big and substantial enough that a even so life arrangement in the centre of the room tin be viewed easily by all students. These ii works by American Pop creative person, Roy Lichtenstein, 'Cape Cod Yet life' and 'Cape Cod Still Life (Study)' show nets and rope entangled around an driftwood and shells. The bottom work is an oil and Magna (a brand of acrylic resin pigment) completed in 1972, with a drawn composition study in a higher place.
Fish, crustaceans and other seafood, such as these high schoolhouse withal life paintings from an IGCSE Fine art Exam by Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell College:
Withal life paintings of fish and other sea creatures can make for an exciting lesson – especially when the real items are slapped onto the centre of tables in the Fine art room (information technology may exist worth checking out where these can be stored in between grade – staff rooms may have space in the freezer)!
Scientific discipline equipment, inspired by this pencil still life from a student of Grant Kniffen at Parkway North High School, United states:
Drawing exercises such as this tin be a peachy manner for making connections betwixt other subject field areas within the school. In this instance, it might exist possible to mimic a scientific experiment that students are currently learning well-nigh. Note the stunning composition in this work, with the combination of slightly curving textbook images and text providing an appropriate groundwork to the detailed three-dimensional microscope.
Wooden mannequins, every bit in these blackness and white still life drawings past Grade 10 and Grade 11 students from Conway High School, The states, taught past Carla Owen. Jeff (left), Dylan (centre) and Nathan (correct):
Wooden mannequins can be great still life additions, posed as if the figure is interacting / responding to its environment. In this still life drawing lesson, varied line weight has been used to create depth and create focal areas within the piece of work.
For more line cartoon examples, please read our comprehensive Line Drawing Guide for Art Students.
Armchairs, chairs or stools, as in this example by Daniel E. Munoz-Vidal:
Art classes may only have admission to mundane stools. Sometimes, notwithstanding, an Fine art instructor will acquire an old chair, sofa or carved wooden chair that tin can get a permanent addition to nonetheless life drove. In this well composed drawing, chairs and tables accept been positioned then that their forms intersect and piece up the page.
Dolls, train sets and other toys, such equally this observational drawing of a teddy bear completed as part of an AQA GCSE Art and Design project educatee past Holly Reynolds from Rex Edward VI Camp Colina School For Girls:
All the same life paintings of toys are a popular pick amidst middle and high school Art students. Although there can be risks with cartoon cartoon-like toys, or those with distorted proportions (it tin can be difficult for an examiner to tell whether the drawing is desperately proportioned rather than the toy itself, for example) items such as old and cleaved dolls, ancient teddy bears and intricate train sets make splendid still life material. This A3 drawing by Holly was completed from starting time-hand observation, in response to the topic 'Memories', using a range of graphite pencils (5H – 9B) and a putty eraser.
Bottles, vases, jugs and vessels (this topic was inspired by a Highcrest Academy Fine art Section Pinterest board), such every bit the famous Giorgio Morandi yet life drawings, etchings and paintings:
Giorgio Morandi, a famous still life artist who died in 1964, is well known for his deceptively uncomplicated still life artworks, which echo many familiar household items, such every bit vases, bowls and bottles. Morandi positions these with careful precision, with each object treated equally if it were a sculptural entity: a formal exploration of space and form. His paintings in particular have a subtle use of tone. The 1928 carving higher up, titled "Grande natura morta con la lampada a destra", may inspire students to produce pen drawings that have a similar cross-hatching aesthetic.
Empty boxes, inspired by a cartoon do completed by a student of Nicole Havekost:
Boxes provide a neat contemporary nonetheless life objects. At first glance boxes seem unproblematic to draw; they are comprised of primarily direct lines, flat planes, with piffling detail; however, this task demands a skilful agreement of perspective and challenges students to really use their eyes to observe the variation in tone. Previously unnoticed details begin to jump into vision: creases, text, peeling edges of cellotape. This activity could be presented every bit a quick still life gesture cartoon or a meticulous, detailed observation of angles, planes, low-cal and grade.
Jewellery and treasure boxes, as in these even so life paintings by IGCSE Fine art and Design student, Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell College:
This work was produced within several drawing lessons that asked students to produce yet life paintings with night backgrounds (such equally the necklace shown on blackness acrylic paint) and piece of work over other prepared grounds (for instance, the still life on the left is completed using Carandache crayon upon watered down acrylic). The jewellery boxes provide students with the opportunity to represent three-dimensional space, while the jewellery itself adds glistening, detailed focal areas inside the piece of work.
Preserved animals and other specimens in jars, such as these modern all the same life artworks by Cindy Wright:
In addition to insects, Science Departments often accept wonderful preserved animal specimens that brand for great even so life subjects. If these are unavailable, you might wish to create your ain dramatic estimation, based on the nevertheless life compositions above by Cindy Wright. These works force us to run across the lifeless gaze of gutted fish coiled inside a glass fish bowl.
Fruit and vegetables, inspired by Paul Cezanne's notwithstanding life with apples:
Fruit and vegetables are inexpensive enough that big quantities can exist purchased for classroom utilize, allowing students to organise the still life arrangements themselves or in pocket-size groups. Dedicated students may bring more unusual items from home. Although a still life comprised of fresh food is unlikely to last longer than a week (less within rambunctious classrooms) vegetables such as garlic, potatoes, onions, gourds and pumpkins can be kept for a much longer duration. At that place is likewise the opportunity to include wooden tables and other all the same life items in the groundwork. These famous still life paintings past Paul Cezanne are titled 'Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier' (which ways Curtain, Jug and Fruit Bowl) and 'The Basket of Apples' (the lower artwork). Both still life paintings are completed using oil and canvass in the 1890s and judged by some to be amongst the best all the same life paintings ever.
Vintage cameras, every bit in these collection of observational drawings by Year ix student Dougal Burden from Takapuna Grammar School:
This exercise introduces students to different mediums and provides experience rendering a range of different cogitating, smooth and faintly textured man-fabricated surfaces. It also provides dandy way to spark other Visual Art interests and share cognition about early photographic techniques.
A glass of water, such as this example past Hanna Asfour:
Although it is near impossible for a high schoolhouse class to go to the end of a water-based lesson without somebody spilling something, this exercise can be a stunning and challenging job that actually helps conquer the fear of transparent surfaces head-on. With skilful lighting, this job allows students to render the glass, h2o and the sparkling tonal variations within the shadow. A task of this nature can be a great one-lesson action, possibly set equally 'test' or one-off consignment.
A jug and cup of tea, with inspiration from cubist yet life paintings by Juan Gris:
Later on preparing the drawing surface with a painted basis and glued down paper (some of which may have decorative patterns that mimic wood grain or a table cloth, for example), students may overlay fragments of observational drawings, from slightly distorted angles, with tone softly applied n the way of Juan Gris. This constructed cubist piece was completed in 1914 using oil and mixed media and is titled 'Breakfast'.
To encounter other background ideas, please read Painting on grounds: creative use of media for Painting students.
Hands, as inspired by this observational drawing by Cath Riley:
Contemporary creative person Cath Riley has produced a serial of detailed, highly realistic graphite pencil drawings of hands, including many in which the hand is touching, squeezing or gripping human flesh. Easily are an accessory that students are able to set up and begin drawing immediately. Each tin can pose their paw in an original position and have this with them to depict from in any location. This makes easily an ideal subject for quick however life sketches.
Marbles, spheres and assurance, inspired by Pedro Campos paintings:
Well known contemporary all the same life artist Pedro Campos creates hyper realistic still life paintings, such as the marble and golf ball oil on canvas work, 'Camp Creek', in a higher place. Drawing marbles and other spherical objects challenges students to focus all of their attention upon color, tone and surface; capturing glistening reflections and textural variations to heighten the illusion of reality.
Shells, as in these artworks from the students of Elizabeth Jendek (from left to right): Marisa Leong, Supanan Lee, Miri Morita, Warin (Pinky) Rungsakaolert and Po Yuan, completed while studying at Thai Chinese International School, Samutprakarn, Thailand:
In addition to provided a wealth of varied visually interesting forms, shells are durable enough to survive the energy of a high schoolhouse Fine art classroom. In this stunning unit of measurement of work, students have produced vibrant, high dissimilarity oil pastel artworks. These works were completed afterwards formally analysing the piece of work of Georgia O'Keeffe, working first-hand from still life arrangements, mirrors to help generate complex compositions.
Insects, such equally these stippled pen drawings upon colored launder, completed by Grade 11 students Emery (left) and Caleb (right) from Conway High School, United States, under the direction of experienced Art instructor, Carla Owen:
Cartoon insects can be challenging, due to difficulty sourcing starting time-hand imagery. It is sometimes possible to purchase dried and preserved insects in display cases and to use a magnifying glass to make the job of observing details easier (Science Departments ofttimes have a ready of these). The striking examples above have been completed using black pen applied in dots (stippled) to a watercolor ground.
Potted plants, succulents and cacti, inspired by Laura Garcia Serventi's illustrations on Etsy:
With an advisable selection of plants (ideally those that can survive long periods without attentive care) and interestingly shaped plant pots, this can form the basis of a great still life painting lesson plan. These works past Laura Garcia Serventi include a variety of contrasting plant forms and flowers, with different subtle patterns, pots positioned on a dramatic tiled floor.
Metal taps, silverware and other highly reflective objects, as is illustrated in this video of how to depict a spoon by VamosART.
Many resources that demonstrate 'how to draw step-past-pace' encourage students to draw by formula, rather than learning to come across and record what is in front of them. This fourth dimension lapse video is very helpful, nonetheless, every bit information technology provides practiced insight into how tone can be built upwards using light and nighttime pencils on mid-tone paper.
Origami or folded paper, inspired by this observational drawings by Sean Dooley, a graduate of Savannah Higher of Fine art and Design:
Folding paper can create stunning shadows and a mesh of intriguing angular lines. This example is one that is included in our list of substitute art lessons, and can involve students first constructing origami, before producing observational drawings in a range of dissimilar media.
Please view our list of substitute Art lessons for more one-off drawing lessons.
Bones and skeletons, every bit in this example past Year 11 student Manisha Mistry, from ACG Strathallan College (please view her full IGCSE Art and Design Coursework projection):
Folding paper tin can create stunning shadows and a mesh of intriguing athwart lines. This case is i that is included in our list of substitute fine art lessons, and tin can involve students first amalgam origami, before producing observational drawings in a range of unlike media.
Complex interiors and window panes, as in this Henri Matisse all the same life:
Titled 'Still life after Jan Davidsz De Heem's 'La Desserte'' this painting is Matisse's interpretation of a work by seventeenth-century Dutch painter Jan Davidsz de Heem. Drawing influences from cubism, Matisse contructs the scene using intersecting athwart lines. In this exercise, the background may accept on equal importance with the key yet life, with open up windows / table surfaces / surrounding items becoming a prominent part of the composition. This task may also go an 'inverted still life', where the still life organisation is pushed into the foreground, with background items helping to gear up the scene and tell a story.
Quondam shoes and sandals, as in these examples by Vincent van Gogh:
The traditional 'nonetheless life with old shoe' remains a popular choice amid Art students. Shiny surfaces ofttimes contrast metal buckles, twisted laces and furled edges of leather. Shoe polish and brushes tin also be a keen improver. These van Gogh still life paintings were completed using oil on sail in the 1880s and are titled 'A pair of shoes' (top) and 'Three pairs of shoes' (lesser).
Art-making equipment, such as is this instance past Textiles Art teacher Gayle Bicknell, which was prepared every bit office of a lesson for her BTEC art course at Alton College, Hampshire, Britain:
This topic lends itself to Jim Dine inspired charcoal all the same life drawings – working with a range of mixed media and textural backgrounds. This didactics example by Gayle is a graphite cartoon of a single pair of scissors over a collaged background that has then been photographed and digitally manipulated.
Woodworking tools, every bit inspired by this teaching exercise past Jaime Brett Treadwell, artist and full-time Professor who teaches foundation courses for all AFA programs offered at Delaware County Customs College including Studio Arts, Graphic Design, and Photography:
In this task, students are encouraged to set tools upon a canvass of white paper, with a low-cal source (such as an inexpensive table lamp) shining upon from an angle that creates interesting shadows. Students use a viewfinder to select a composition from the arrangement, because the relationship between positive and negative spaces. The image is created using a range of experimental techniques, such as erasing back areas, rubbing the paper with napkins and then on. Visually pleasing tools that are scarred and dilapidated with utilize can often exist sourced at low cost from second hand shops (call back it is best to avoid those that may cause inadvertent injury). As with higher up, woodworking tools are a smashing subject matter to utilize while studying the work of Jim Dine.
At that place are also slap-up ideas for tools in this great Highcrest Fine art Department Pinterest lath.
Weaving, as in this example by Year eleven IGCSE Art student Manisha Mistry, from ACG Strathallan Higher:
In this still life lesson students were required to research traditional flax weaving methods and make their own experimental weaving. They and then created observational drawings from these and photocopied the weaving for subsequent tasks. Weaving drawings offer the opportunity for students to practice blending colors in a wide range of unlike mediums.
Musical instruments, every bit in this detail from a Pieter Claesz vanitas all the same life:
High school Music Departments are sometimes willing to lend instruments that can be used in still life displays; with instruments overlapping in order to create interesting shadows, every bit in the item of the oil painting above by Pieter Claesz. This work is titled 'Vanitas However Life with the Spinario' and was painted in 1628.
Yous may too be interested in viewing this 100% As Coursework project based upon an abstraction of instrument still life by Yr 12 Every bit Fine art and Blueprint student Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell Higher.
Former books, such as this example of a Dutch still life with books completed in 1628 (artist unknown):
Beautiful old books can often be purchased from second-mitt shops. School English, Geography, Scientific discipline and History Departments also may accept nifty sometime textbooks that have been discarded by past students or are no longer used. Many of these may accept educatee graphite, dates or other annotation in them that can provide welcome diversity and visual interest in yet life drawings and paintings of books.
Cord, sticks and stones, inspired by a teaching practise designed past Andrew Strachan (now pedagogy at ACG Senior College).
In this activeness, students are presented with a collection of sticks, string and stones, and asked to create a sculpture by tying together the sticks and hanging a stone from this using the cord. Observational drawings are and so created of this, with the tension of the thin, taut string contrasting the textured woods and stone.
Notwithstanding life with flowers, inspired by these Vincent van Gogh sunflowers:
A drawing of flowers can become cliche, 'pretty' or uninspiring (calculation to the endless formulaic roses, hibiscus or lily flower drawings that fill up the world). Extreme care should be taken to guide students away from 'rote' or 'formulaic' drawing, where the flower is drawn from memory or footstep-by-step according to some predetermined pattern, without offset-hand observation of form or tone. You might choose uncommon flowers, or those that are damaged, dried or decayed, for instance. Rather than in a blossom pot or vase, the flowers might be scattered upon the ground, equally in '4 cut sunflowers' by van Gogh higher up. It is besides worth noting that flower still life drawings and paintings tin can as well be a hit with family members, with many parents enthusiastically displaying blossom drawings (much more then that with some of the other withal life suggestions on this folio)!
Lamps, lanterns and lite bulbs, as in this charcoal drawing by Akrawczyk:
In addition to transparency and curving reflective surfaces, these yet life objects often take thin wires and/or power cords – and often emit light themselves – making them an extra challenging and exciting object to draw.
Collections of popular gimmicky foodstuffs – bright packages and middle catching labels – can be used to create stunning compositions, as in this Tom Wesselmann still life. Many of these 'popular objects' have the do good that they are packaged and long-lasting, able to be stored for some time in an Art room cupboard.
A cluttered desk-bound, inspired past this Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin withal life:
Although Art students are oft masters of the cluttered desk syndrome, this task tin be prepare up within a classroom with more than purpose, so that the selected objects are part of a narrative, whereby the composition conveys a particular backstory and significant. In this Chardin nonetheless life, titled 'The Attributes of the Arts and the Rewards Which Are Accorded Them', completed using oil on sheet, objects have been selected to represent various artistic disciplines – painting, drawing, architecture and sculpture – and are bundled alongside a ribbon with a cross, the highest award an artist in this region and fourth dimension could manifestly receive. The work was completed using oil on sheet in 1766.
A decorated pinboard, as in this however life painting by Jean-François de Le Motte:
Notwithstanding life arrangements can be hands pinned to classroom pinboards. This painting, completed in 1670, includes a painting inside a painting, a letter to the artist, a printed pamphlet and an accounting booklet.
Eggs, as in this AP Studio Art summer assignment set up past teacher Billy Hicks:
Students throughout the ages accept voiced their frustration when they are set the task of applying tone to drawings of eggs, even so almost all see the value of the exercise when the work is consummate. This still life activity involves a contrast of textures, with the smooth eggs resting on textured textile or crumpled paper towel to create a visually pleasing composition. Another variation involves drawing open egg shells, with light falling across the concave and convex surfaces.
Rubbish / litter / discarded remains, equally in this cartoon by Brittany Lee, Year 10 Fine art student at ACG Parnell College:
Samples of litter and other remains, such every bit orange peelings, banana skins and apple tree cores tin brand excellent still life subjects. This work was completed using black Indian and water on wet-strength cartridge paper. It was completed within ane hr.
This drawing lesson likewise featured in our list of ideas for substitute Art teachers.
Seedpods, as inspired by this observational drawing past IGCSE Fine art and Design educatee, Claire Mitchell, ACG Strathallan College (you may also like to view this Highcrest University Art Pinterest board for inspiration):
Seedpods come in many intriguing organic shapes and forms. They typically last for a long time and are readily available – often in the school thousand itself.
Shirts, dresses and drape, as in these examples past the students of Kristy Patterson, Guymon High School:
Shirts, dresses and other wearable items, which might include coat hangers, zips, buttons, belts, buckles, items of adornment, besides as traditional costumes, offer the opportunity to depict draped folded fabric alongside more circuitous accessories, pleats, seams and cloth details. In the exercise above, students produce realistic drawings of a personal item of clothing that are pinned to a brandish console (the console can be shifted aside and placed in storage until the next course).
Random objects hanging from cord, as in these graphite drawings past the students of Jaime Brett Treadwell, creative person and full-time Professor who teaches foundation courses for all AFA programs offered at Delaware County Community Higher including Studio Arts, Graphic Design, and Photography:
A still life composition that is created from hanging objects has the presence of the string to create tension and linear elements, alongside unexpected shadows, angles and alignment of objects. It can also consequence in dramatic contemporary imagery, equally students hang and explore unusual subject matter.
You may also wish to view this high school art project by Nikau Hindin, which contains images derived from decaying fruit and vegetables hanging on string.
Cutlery and kitchen utensils, as in this warm-up drawing exercise by the students of artist and instructor Julie Douglas:
This exercise is i of the most challenging on this list. The still life drawing combines cogitating surface, convex and concave forms with pocket-size details and knotted string.
This work was before featured in How to Create an excellent Observational Drawing: 11 Tips for High School Art Students.
Did you relish this list? Please share it with other Fine art teachers and students that you know!
Amiria has been an Fine art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the class design and assessment of pupil piece of work in 2 high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Educational activity. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Design Coursework Assessor.
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