Still life
Still life lets you control everything: the objects, light and time. Painters from Dutch Golden Age masters to Paul Cézanne have used it to explore form, colour and meaning.
Step by step
- Choose 3–5 objects with varied sizes, shapes and textures — something tall, something round, something reflective.
- Overlap objects and vary the spacing; avoid lining them up in a row.
- Light the setup with one lamp from the side to create clear shadows. A box with dark cloth helps control the light.
- Do a value thumbnail before you start.
- Paint the shadow shapes first, then the lights, then textures and highlights last.
- Look for reflected colour: a red apple bounces red light onto a white cloth.
Common mistakes
- Too many objects for the time available.
- Flat, front-on lighting with no shadows.
- All objects at the same height and spacing.
Practice exercise
Paint one object (an egg, a lemon, a mug) every day for a week, each under different light.