High school Art students are often required to produce nonetheless life drawings or paintings within the confines of a busy classroom. Virtually Fine art Departments have cupboards crammed full of visually interesting objects that tin can be used to create all the same life arrangements. This article lists still life ideas for teachers or students who are stuck or in demand of inspiration. The collection includes tried and true favourites that have been used by Fine art teachers for generations, besides as more unusual and gimmicky yet life topics.
What is a however life? Here is a definition provided by Wikipedia:
A piece of work of art depicting more often than not inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made
While senior Art students are normally free to come upwardly with their own topic or theme (read our article how to come up up with dandy subject matter for your Art projection) many heart school or junior high school students are required to work with objects and scenes that come across the following criteria:
Viewable first-hand
Visually interesting, with a range of different textures, reflections, surfaces and forms
Small enough to prepare and adapt in the classroom (light, hands moveable)
Able to arranged in unlike ways, creating original compositions so that multiple exciting works can be created
Durable enough to be handled safely by enthusiastic teenagers (without sharp or dangerous parts, for example)
Able to stored from lesson to lesson without eroding, decomposable or breaking (this is not necessary if the yet life can be drawn within a single lesson or photographed for completion at a afterwards engagement)
Appropriate for younger students to view (i.due east. not offensive)
This manufactures 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!
fifty+ Still Life Drawing Ideas
Popcorn, as in these original even so life artworks by Po Yuan (left) and Betty Chen (correct), students of Elizabeth Jendek, Thai Chinese International School, Samutprakarn, Thailand:
Although at that place is a singled-out possibility that a number of still life items might mysteriously 'disappear' during the course of this lesson, popcorn provides an excellent opportunity for practising the awarding of tone. Completed in charcoal, these big works create a kind of semi-bathetic landscapes and require careful attending to light and shadow.
Crumpled paper numberless, such as this work by 18 year old artist Raegan Koepsel:
Crunched and creased paper bags create dramatic shadows and provide an excellent opportunity to learn most tone. This is a great subject to draw with charcoal on mid-tone grey or brownish paper. In this example, the paper bags have been twisted in dissimilar ways and carefully contrasted with a background of corrugated cardboard.
Styrofoam cups, as inspired by this activity by the DC Sketchers:
This is an first-class drawing activity to help students sympathize 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 all the same life drawing lesson. Photograph courtesy East Metropolis Fine art.
For more about drawing ellipses, please read eleven tips for improving your observational drawing.
Mechanism and mechanical parts, such as old sewing machines, disassembled clocks, cogs/wheels and typewriters, inspired past this drawing from Parkway North Loftier Schoolhouse, United States, taught past Art instructor and artist Grant Kniffen:
When the inner workings of mechanical items are exposed, there are ofttimes endless opportunities for art-making. In this observational drawing, the complex letter keys, crunched paper and detailed ink ribbon dissimilarity the shine 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 angling nets provide an excellent bailiwick thing for however life works due to the variety of shapes, forms, patterns and surface textures. The items are usually large and substantial enough that a still life organisation in the centre of the room tin can be viewed easily by all students. These 2 works by American Popular artist, Roy Lichtenstein, 'Greatcoat Cod Withal life' and 'Greatcoat Cod Nonetheless Life (Study)' show nets and rope entangled effectually an driftwood and shells. The lesser piece of work is an oil and Magna (a brand of acrylic resin paint) completed in 1972, with a drawn composition written report above.
Fish, crustaceans and other seafood, such as these high school all the same life paintings from an IGCSE Art Exam by Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell College:
Still life paintings of fish and other sea creatures can brand for an exciting lesson – peculiarly when the existent items are slapped onto the centre of tables in the Fine art room (it may be worth checking out where these can be stored in between class – staff rooms may have infinite in the freezer)!
Science equipment, inspired by this pencil notwithstanding life from a educatee of Grant Kniffen at Parkway North High School, United States:
Drawing exercises such as this can exist a bully fashion for making connections between other subject field areas within the school. In this case, information technology might be possible to mimic a scientific experiment that students are currently learning about. Note the stunning limerick in this piece of work, with the combination of slightly curving textbook images and text providing an appropriate background to the detailed iii-dimensional microscope.
Wooden mannequins, as in these black and white nonetheless life drawings by Course 10 and Class eleven students from Conway High School, United States, taught past Carla Owen. Jeff (left), Dylan (heart) and Nathan (right):
Wooden mannequins can be great notwithstanding 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 work.
For more than line drawing examples, delight read our comprehensive Line Drawing Guide for Fine art Students.
Armchairs, chairs or stools, as in this case by Daniel Due east. Munoz-Vidal:
Art classes may but have access to mundane stools. Sometimes, however, an Art instructor will acquire an one-time chair, sofa or carved wooden chair that can become a permanent addition to still life collection. In this well composed drawing, chairs and tables accept been positioned and so that their forms intersect and slice up the folio.
Dolls, train sets and other toys, such as this observational drawing of a teddy bear completed as part of an AQA GCSE Art and Design projection student by Holly Reynolds from King Edward VI Camp Loma School For Girls:
Notwithstanding life paintings of toys are a popular selection amongst centre and high school Art students. Although there can be risks with drawing drawing-like toys, or those with distorted proportions (it 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 broken dolls, ancient teddy bears and intricate train sets make fantabulous notwithstanding life material. This A3 cartoon by Holly was completed from first-paw 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 University Fine art Department Pinterest lath), such as the famous Giorgio Morandi nonetheless life drawings, etchings and paintings:
Giorgio Morandi, a famous still life creative person who died in 1964, is well known for his deceptively simple 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 as if it were a sculptural entity: a formal exploration of space and grade. His paintings in detail have a subtle use of tone. The 1928 etching above, 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 past a drawing practice completed by a student of Nicole Havekost:
Boxes provide a bully gimmicky nevertheless life objects. At first glance boxes seem simple to draw; they are comprised of primarily direct lines, apartment planes, with little detail; yet, this job demands a good agreement of perspective and challenges students to really utilize their optics to detect the variation in tone. Previously unnoticed details begin to jump into vision: creases, text, peeling edges of cellotape. This activity could be presented as a quick nevertheless life gesture drawing or a meticulous, detailed ascertainment of angles, planes, low-cal and form.
Jewellery and treasure boxes, as in these still life paintings past IGCSE Art and Design student, Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell College:
This work was produced within several drawing lessons that asked students to produce all the same life paintings with nighttime backgrounds (such as the necklace shown on black acrylic paint) and piece of work over other prepared grounds (for example, the all the same 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 infinite, while the jewellery itself adds glistening, detailed focal areas inside the piece of work.
Preserved animals and other specimens in jars, such every bit these modern still life artworks by Cindy Wright:
In addition to insects, Science Departments often take wonderful preserved animal specimens that make for cracking still life subjects. If these are unavailable, you might wish to create your own dramatic interpretation, based on the still life compositions in a higher place by Cindy Wright. These works strength the states to meet the lifeless gaze of gutted fish coiled within a glass fish bowl.
Fruit and vegetables, inspired by Paul Cezanne'due south still life with apples:
Fruit and vegetables are inexpensive enough that large quantities can be purchased for classroom use, allowing students to organise the still life arrangements themselves or in small groups. Dedicated students may bring more unusual items from dwelling house. Although a even so life comprised of fresh food is unlikely to last longer than a week (less within rambunctious classrooms) vegetables such equally garlic, potatoes, onions, gourds and pumpkins tin can be kept for a much longer duration. There is also the opportunity to include wooden tables and other nevertheless life items in the background. These famous still life paintings past Paul Cezanne are titled 'Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier' (which means 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 past some to be among the best still life paintings ever.
Vintage cameras, every bit in these collection of observational drawings by Year ix student Dougal Burden from Takapuna Grammar School:
This practice introduces students to dissimilar mediums and provides experience rendering a range of different reflective, smooth and faintly textured man-made surfaces. It as well provides groovy way to spark other Visual Art interests and share noesis about early photographic techniques.
A drinking glass of h2o, such as this example by Hanna Asfour:
Although it is about impossible for a high school class to get to the finish of a water-based lesson without somebody spilling something, this exercise can be a stunning and challenging job that really helps conquer the fear of transparent surfaces caput-on. With good lighting, this task allows students to render the glass, water and the sparkling tonal variations inside the shadow. A task of this nature can be a great 1-lesson action, maybe set as 'test' or i-off assignment.
A jug and cup of tea, with inspiration from cubist still life paintings past Juan Gris:
After preparing the cartoon surface with a painted basis and glued downwardly paper (some of which may accept 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 practical n the style of Juan Gris. This synthetic cubist piece was completed in 1914 using oil and mixed media and is titled 'Breakfast'.
To see other groundwork ideas, delight read Painting on grounds: creative use of media for Painting students.
Hands, as inspired past this observational drawing by Cath Riley:
Gimmicky artist Cath Riley has produced a series of detailed, highly realistic graphite pencil drawings of easily, including many in which the paw is touching, squeezing or gripping human flesh. Hands are an accessory that students are able to set up and begin drawing immediately. Each tin can pose their hand in an original position and have this with them to describe from in any location. This makes hands an platonic subject for quick still life sketches.
Marbles, spheres and balls, inspired by Pedro Campos paintings:
Well known contemporary however life creative person Pedro Campos creates hyper realistic nevertheless life paintings, such every bit the marble and golf ball oil on sheet work, 'Camp Creek', above. Drawing marbles and other spherical objects challenges students to focus all of their attention upon colour, tone and surface; capturing glistening reflections and textural variations to enhance 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 school Fine art classroom. In this stunning unit of piece of work, students have produced vibrant, high dissimilarity oil pastel artworks. These works were completed subsequently 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 as these stippled pen drawings upon colored wash, completed by Grade 11 students Emery (left) and Caleb (right) from Conway High Schoolhouse, U.s., under the management of experienced Art teacher, Carla Owen:
Drawing insects can exist challenging, due to difficulty sourcing first-hand imagery. It is sometimes possible to buy dried and preserved insects in display cases and to utilize a magnifying glass to make the task of observing details easier (Scientific discipline Departments often have a set of these). The hitting examples above have been completed using black pen applied in dots (stippled) to a watercolor basis.
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 footing of a great nonetheless life painting lesson plan. These works by Laura Garcia Serventi include a variety of contrasting establish forms and flowers, with different subtle patterns, pots positioned on a dramatic tiled flooring.
Metal taps, silverware and other highly reflective objects, equally is illustrated in this video of how to draw a spoon by VamosART.
Many resource that demonstrate 'how to describe step-by-step' encourage students to describe past formula, rather than learning to meet and record what is in front of them. This time lapse video is very helpful, however, as it provides good insight into how tone can be built up using light and dark pencils on mid-tone paper.
Origami or folded paper, inspired past this observational drawings by Sean Dooley, a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Blueprint:
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 start amalgam origami, earlier producing observational drawings in a range of different media.
Please view our listing of substitute Art lessons for more than one-off drawing lessons.
Bones and skeletons, as in this example by Yr eleven student Manisha Mistry, from ACG Strathallan College (please view her full IGCSE Art and Design Coursework project):
Folding paper tin can create stunning shadows and a mesh of intriguing angular lines. This instance is one that is included in our list of substitute fine art lessons, and can involve students first constructing origami, before producing observational drawings in a range of different media.
Complex interiors and window panes, as in this Henri Matisse still life:
Titled 'Still life after Jan Davidsz De Heem's 'La Desserte'' this painting is Matisse's estimation of a work by seventeenth-century Dutch painter Jan Davidsz de Heem. Cartoon influences from cubism, Matisse contructs the scene using intersecting athwart lines. In this exercise, the background may take on equal importance with the primal still life, with open windows / table surfaces / surrounding items becoming a prominent part of the composition. This job may also become an 'inverted still life', where the yet life organisation is pushed into the foreground, with background items helping to set the scene and tell a story.
Old shoes and sandals, equally in these examples by Vincent van Gogh:
The traditional 'still life with old shoe' remains a popular choice amidst Fine art students. Shiny surfaces often contrast metallic buckles, twisted laces and furled edges of leather. Shoe polish and brushes can likewise be a great addition. These van Gogh nonetheless life paintings were completed using oil on canvas in the 1880s and are titled 'A pair of shoes' (summit) and 'Three pairs of shoes' (lesser).
Art-making equipment, such as is this instance past Textiles Art instructor Gayle Bicknell, which was prepared as office of a lesson for her BTEC art class at Alton College, Hampshire, United kingdom:
This topic lends itself to Jim Dine inspired charcoal still life drawings – working with a range of mixed media and textural backgrounds. This teaching case by Gayle is a graphite cartoon of a single pair of scissors over a collaged groundwork that has then been photographed and digitally manipulated.
Woodworking tools, as inspired past this teaching exercise by Jaime Brett Treadwell, artist and full-time Professor who teaches foundation courses for all AFA programs offered at Delaware Canton Community College including Studio Arts, Graphic Design, and Photography:
In this task, students are encouraged to set tools upon a canvas of white paper, with a light 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, considering the relationship between positive and negative spaces. The image is created using a range of experimental techniques, such every bit erasing back areas, rubbing the paper with napkins and so on. Visually pleasing tools that are scarred and dilapidated with use can often exist sourced at depression cost from second mitt shops (remember it is all-time to avoid those that may cause inadvertent injury). As with higher up, woodworking tools are a great field of study matter to use while studying the piece of work of Jim Dine.
In that location are also great ideas for tools in this great Highcrest Fine art Department Pinterest board.
Weaving, equally in this example past Year 11 IGCSE Art student Manisha Mistry, from ACG Strathallan College:
In this still life lesson students were required to inquiry traditional flax weaving methods and make their own experimental weaving. They 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 dissimilar mediums.
Musical instruments, as in this item from a Pieter Claesz vanitas withal life:
Loftier school Music Departments are sometimes willing to lend instruments that tin can exist used in notwithstanding life displays; with instruments overlapping in order to create interesting shadows, as in the detail of the oil painting above past Pieter Claesz. This work is titled 'Vanitas Still Life with the Spinario' and was painted in 1628.
You may besides be interested in viewing this 100% As Coursework projection based upon an abstraction of instrument still life by Year 12 Every bit Fine art and Design student Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell College.
Old books, such as this example of a Dutch nevertheless life with books completed in 1628 (creative person unknown):
Beautiful erstwhile books can often be purchased from second-hand shops. School English, Geography, Science and History Departments also may take great old textbooks that have been discarded by by students or are no longer used. Many of these may accept student graphite, dates or other annotation in them that tin can provide welcome diverseness and visual interest in notwithstanding life drawings and paintings of books.
String, sticks and stones, inspired by a instruction practise designed by Andrew Strachan (now teaching at ACG Senior College).
In this activity, 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 wood and rock.
Yet life with flowers, inspired past these Vincent van Gogh sunflowers:
A drawing of flowers can go cliché, 'pretty' or uninspiring (adding to the endless formulaic roses, hibiscus or lily blossom drawings that fill the world). Farthermost care should be taken to guide students away from 'rote' or 'formulaic' drawing, where the flower is fatigued from retention or pace-past-step co-ordinate to some predetermined pattern, without outset-hand observation of class or tone. Yous might choose uncommon flowers, or those that are damaged, dried or decayed, for case. Rather than in a flower 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 likewise be a hitting with family members, with many parents enthusiastically displaying flower drawings (much more so that with some of the other still life suggestions on this page)!
Lamps, lanterns and light bulbs, as in this charcoal drawing by Akrawczyk:
In addition to transparency and curving cogitating surfaces, these still life objects ofttimes have thin wires and/or power cords – and often emit lite themselves – making them an extra challenging and exciting object to draw.
Collections of popular contemporary foodstuffs – bright packages and eye catching labels – tin can be used to create stunning compositions, as in this Tom Wesselmann still life. Many of these 'popular objects' have the benefit that they are packaged and long-lasting, able to be stored for some fourth dimension in an Art room cupboard.
A cluttered desk, inspired by this Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin still life:
Although Fine art students are ofttimes masters of the cluttered desk-bound syndrome, this job tin exist gear up within a classroom with more purpose, so that the selected objects are part of a narrative, whereby the composition conveys a particular backstory and meaning. In this Chardin nevertheless life, titled 'The Attributes of the Arts and the Rewards Which Are Accorded Them', completed using oil on canvass, objects have been selected to represent various artistic disciplines – painting, drawing, compages and sculpture – and are bundled alongside a ribbon with a cantankerous, the highest laurels an artist in this region and time could apparently receive. The work was completed using oil on canvas in 1766.
A decorated pinboard, every bit in this nonetheless life painting by Jean-François de Le Motte:
Still life arrangements tin exist hands pinned to classroom pinboards. This painting, completed in 1670, includes a painting within a painting, a alphabetic character to the artist, a printed pamphlet and an accounting booklet.
Eggs, as in this AP Studio Art summertime assignment set past instructor Billy Hicks:
Students throughout the ages take voiced their frustration when they are set the task of applying tone to drawings of eggs, however almost all see the value of the exercise when the work is complete. This still life action involves a contrast of textures, with the smooth eggs resting on textured cloth or crumpled paper towel to create a visually pleasing composition. Another variation involves drawing open egg shells, with lite falling beyond the concave and convex surfaces.
Rubbish / litter / discarded remains, as in this drawing by Brittany Lee, Year x Art student at ACG Parnell College:
Samples of litter and other remains, such as orange peelings, banana skins and apple cores can brand first-class still life subjects. This work was completed using blackness Indian and water on moisture-strength cartridge paper. It was completed inside one hour.
This cartoon lesson too featured in our list of ideas for substitute Art teachers.
Seedpods, equally inspired by this observational cartoon past IGCSE Fine art and Design student, Claire Mitchell, ACG Strathallan College (you may also like to view this Highcrest Academy Art Pinterest lath 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 m itself.
Shirts, dresses and drape, as in these examples past the students of Kristy Patterson, Guymon High School:
Shirts, dresses and other vesture items, which might include glaze hangers, zips, buttons, belts, buckles, items of adornment, too as traditional costumes, offer the opportunity to describe draped folded textile aslope more circuitous accessories, pleats, seams and fabric details. In the practice above, students produce realistic drawings of a personal particular of wear that are pinned to a display panel (the panel can be shifted aside and placed in storage until the next course).
Random objects hanging from string, as in these graphite drawings by the students of Jaime Brett Treadwell, artist and total-time Professor who teaches foundation courses for all AFA programs offered at Delaware Canton Community College including Studio Arts, Graphic Design, and Photography:
A nevertheless life composition that is created from hanging objects has the presence of the string to create tension and linear elements, aslope unexpected shadows, angles and alignment of objects. It tin too upshot in dramatic contemporary imagery, as students hang and explore unusual subject matter.
Y'all may besides wish to view this loftier schoolhouse art project past Nikau Hindin, which contains images derived from decaying fruit and vegetables hanging on string.
Cutlery and kitchen utensils, every bit in this warm-upward cartoon exercise by the students of creative person and teacher Julie Douglas:
This exercise is one of the almost challenging on this listing. The still life drawing combines reflective surface, convex and concave forms with modest details and knotted cord.
This work was earlier featured in How to Create an splendid Observational Drawing: 11 Tips for High School Art Students.
Did yous enjoy this list? Delight share information technology with other Art teachers and students that you know!
Amiria has been an Art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the class blueprint and assessment of student work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (Commencement Course Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Instruction. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Design Coursework Assessor.
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