I respect Steve Wilda's approach to still life painting
because he depicts objects that most people would pass by. Torn lace
tablecloths, broken mugs, rusted out pots—the items that Wilda depicts aren't
refined, yet the still life paintings he creates have a rough-and-tumble beauty
about them that is memorable and appealing.
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| Coffee Break by Steve Wilda, acrylic painting. |
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Looking at Wilda's work makes me reassess all the objects
for still life painting exercises that I may have discarded in the past. I
guess I have always thought that only "certain" objects are right for still
life artwork—objects that are clean and intact. But I haven't been giving the
patina of time its due. Objects that show their use and those that have been
broken or altered in some way can be just as interesting as ones in pristine
condition.
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Lemon Drops by Steve Wilda,
acrylic painting. |
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In fact, I think that objects that show you a little bit
about the life they've led have more character than ones that are brand new. I've
also found that I have a stronger connection to the objects Wilda depicts
because my senses are more engaged in looking at them. When I see a broken
coffee mug, my mind settles on imagining how that broken edge feels, or what
the texture is of the rust on the pitted bucket in the painting
Lemon Drops. Instead of being a
liability in his still life art, these aspects of his still life objects put
Wilda's paintings a bit above the rest in my mind.
But no matter what kind of object lures your eye, start with
Still Life Painting Atelier to learn all the oil-painting approaches
you'll need to paint anything and everything you can find. From lessons on
painting metallic and reflective surfaces to step-by-step information on
texture and edges, Still Life Painting
Atelier is a resource that is packed with crucial information for any
painter looking for solid instruction. Enjoy!
