How Different Artists
Interpret Still Life
Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill, 1628
Pieter Claesz (Dutch, 1596/97–1660)
Vanitas Still Life
1663 Adam Bernaert
Still Life With Skull And Candlestick, 1866
Paul Cezanne
Still Life with Two Sunflowers
1887
Vincent Van Gogh
Still Life with a Basket of Apples
1890-94 Paul Cezanne
Still Life with Gingerpot II
1912 Piet Mondrian
Fruit Dish
1908-09 Georges Braque
Blue Still Life
1907 Henri Matisse
Woman with a Guitar
1913
Georges Braque
Still Life
1913 Samuel John Peploe
Dutch Interior, I
1928
Joan Miro
Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue
1931 Georgia O’Keeffe
Still Life with a Bull’s Skull 1939
Pablo Picasso
How Beautiful Life is When It Gives Us Its Riches
1943 Frida Kahlo
Still Life with Orange Peel
1955 Richard Diebenkorn
Boston Cremes
1962 Wayne Thiebaud
La Grande Table
1965 Rene Magritte
Still life with Cow’s Skull
1972 Roy Lichtenstein
Wheel of Fortune
1978 Audrey Flack
Still Life with Flower
1990 Carl Hepp
Still Life with Kiwi
2011 Jean Townsend
Abstract Wine Bottle and Glass Still Life
2013
Mark Adam Webster
Abstract Rough Futurism Coffee Cup
Still Life
2014 Mark Adam Webster
This is merely a sampling of the artists who
may inspire you and your own work.
For this assignment, find an artist whose style
and body of work you respond to and use this
as the inspiration for your own still life. As you
can see, there are many possibilities for how
this assignment is interpreted.
First choose an artist whose style or body of work is inspiring to you. In your
sketchbook create a page that answers the following information about the
artist:
(See example at http://rhsartmash.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/sketchbook)
Name
Date of birth
Country of origin
Style/Art movement
Philosophy/Reason for creating Art/Inspiration
In your own words, what is it about this artist’s work that inspires you? Is it their use of the media,
color, textures, line, abstraction, realism…etc?
You will receive a mini-project grade for this part of the assignment.
Second: choose your media and complete at least one
study in your sketchbook exploring how you will use this
material for your final piece.
We will be working with drawing and painting media. You may work in black
and white or color. You may choose one from the following:
pencil
chalk pastel
charcoal
oil pastels
conte crayon (black, sepia or colored)
markers
colored pencils
acrylic paints
oil paints
watercolors
You will receive a mini-project grade for this part of the assignment.
Third you will create at least 5 thumbnail sketches in your
sketchbook to plan your design and approach.
o Consider how you will use the elements and principles of design to make a strong, unified and
well balanced composition. Draw upon skills and techniques you have already learned in Art. Push
yourself even further.
Fourth you will begin your final piece.
o Completed work will be at least 15x20 inches.
o When you have completed your work, write an artist statement explaining your idea and
influences to the viewer.
You will receive a project grade for this part of the assignment.