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The grapes establish dominance in an otherwise
bland still life painting setup. |
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Your still life! By following a few key guidelines when
creating
still life painting setups, you will be on your way to creating successful,
dynamic paintings that really stand out. Here are a few pieces of advice to
keep in mind when putting together your own compositions.
Establish dominance. A composition instantly becomes more
cohesive if there is a visual hierarchy and one object commands more attention
than others.
The effect should be subtle, but it is always important to have a
focal point or dominate object in a still life setup to guide the viewer
through a painting.
Hit repeat. An affordable and easy way to compose a still
life drawing or painting is to feature one kind of object in many different
positions.
For example take a dozen apples, and arrange them with one goal in
mind: to place or position each apple in a different way. The same visual
appeal doesn't come if you use varied items, which can sometimes lead to a
composition that appears too busy.
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A number of the same objects can
make a compelling still life. |
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Variety is created by using the oranges and peppers
as a whole and in segments and slices. |
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Variety with just one item. Master still life artists are always
focused on how to make the most of their chosen objects, and one possible way
to do so is to paint an object both whole and in parts. For example, paint an
orange whole, peeled, and separated into segments.
For more tips and tricks on still life art, you can pore
over an entire year's worth of articles and instruction in our new American Artist CD Collection. Every
issue for the entire year is there and will get you brainstorming your next
artwork in no time. Enjoy!
