A New Way to Think About Painting Still Life

"Moonshell" (c) Mary Hubley

Still Life = Boring?

Still life means Still. Dull. Mundane. A bowl of boring fruit... A vase of dead flowers. Sigh. Poor still life. What a wretched reputation.

But I still believe. I hope my still lifes accomplish energy. I try to animate the still objects that I pick up on the beach. Seashells are energized with light and color. Flowers are explosions of composition, mood, and light.


Here's how I switch the mundane still life to extraordinary:  

• Connect with the subject. I paint things that mean something. Combine Grammy's old bowls and fresh cut oranges. Those oranges smell great. Happy. Paint the memories. 
• Treasure hunt. Go to the beach and find a pocket of the shells, stones, and sea glass. Get in the car on Saturday for a couple hours of garage sales.
• Set it up. Experiment. Move things around for an hour or two before you get started. Go for unusual angles. Make objects go off the page. View from above or underneath.
• Contrast. Use strong lights and shadows. Place a shiny object next to something furry; something organic against something man-made. Place patterns in the background.
• Practice, huh? Getting good means you need to do it. Jump in.

This painting is available - please contact Mary Hubley for details.
 
Genre: Still Life
Painting Name: Moonshell
Size: 6" x 6"
Media: Oil on Canvas


Mary Hubley
www.maryhubley.com