High school Art students are often required to produce still life drawings or paintings inside the confines of a busy classroom. Most Fine art Departments have cupboards crammed full of visually interesting objects that can be used to create still life arrangements. This commodity lists still life ideas for teachers or students who are stuck or in need of inspiration. The collection includes tried and true favourites that have been used by Art teachers for generations, also as more unusual and gimmicky still life topics.
What is a still life? Here is a definition provided by Wikipedia:
A work of art depicting more often than not inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may exist either natural or homo-made
While senior Fine art students are commonly complimentary to come up with their own topic or theme (read our commodity how to come upward with great subject matter for your Art project) many middle schoolhouse or junior high school students are required to piece of work with objects and scenes that run across the following criteria:
Viewable first-paw
Visually interesting, with a range of dissimilar textures, reflections, surfaces and forms
Small enough to set and conform in the classroom (light, easily moveable)
Able to arranged in dissimilar ways, creating original compositions so that multiple exciting works tin can be created
Durable plenty to be handled safely by enthusiastic teenagers (without sharp or dangerous parts, for example)
Able to stored from lesson to lesson without eroding, decaying or breaking (this is not necessary if the withal life can be drawn inside a unmarried lesson or photographed for completion at a later appointment)
Appropriate for younger students to view (i.e. non offensive)
This manufactures includes great work by students as well as famous all the same life artists. It is a work in progress, with many more ideas to exist added over time!
50+ Still Life Drawing Ideas
Popcorn, every bit in these original all the same life artworks past Po Yuan (left) and Betty Chen (right), students of Elizabeth Jendek, Thai Chinese International School, Samutprakarn, Thailand:
Although at that place is a distinct possibility that a number of still life items might mysteriously 'disappear' during the course of this lesson, popcorn provides an excellent opportunity for practising the application of tone. Completed in charcoal, these large works create a kind of semi-bathetic landscapes and require careful attending to light and shadow.
Crumpled paper bags, such as this piece of work by 18 twelvemonth old artist Raegan Koepsel:
Crunched and creased paper bags create dramatic shadows and provide an first-class opportunity to learn about tone. This is a great bailiwick to draw with charcoal on mid-tone grey or brown paper. In this instance, the paper bags have been twisted in different ways and advisedly assorted with a groundwork of corrugated cardboard.
Styrofoam cups, as inspired by this activeness by the DC Sketchers:
This is an excellent drawing activeness to aid students understand how to stand for ellipses (the oval shape that is visible when a circle is viewed from bending). The hollow truncated cones become surrounded by shadows and beautiful pockets of curving negative space, creating a superb still life drawing lesson. Photo courtesy Due east City Art.
For more almost drawing ellipses, please read xi tips for improving your observational drawing.
Machinery and mechanical parts, such as old sewing machines, disassembled clocks, cogs/wheels and typewriters, inspired by this drawing from Parkway North High School, United states, taught by Art teacher and artist Grant Kniffen:
When the inner workings of mechanical items are exposed, there are often endless opportunities for art-making. In this observational drawing, the circuitous letter keys, crunched paper and detailed ink ribbon contrast the shine surfaces of the typewriter and tabletop.
Many high school Art projects within New Zealand are based effectually the embankment and coastline. Items such as rope, floats, hooks, anchors, driftwood and angling nets provide an excellent subject matter for still life works due to the diverseness of shapes, forms, patterns and surface textures. The items are ordinarily big and substantial enough that a notwithstanding life arrangement in the centre of the room can be viewed easily by all students. These ii works by American Pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein, 'Cape Cod All the same life' and 'Cape Cod Still Life (Study)' bear witness nets and rope entangled around an driftwood and shells. The bottom work is an oil and Magna (a brand of acrylic resin paint) completed in 1972, with a drawn composition report to a higher place.
Fish, crustaceans and other seafood, such as these high school yet life paintings from an IGCSE Art Examination by Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell Higher:
Still life paintings of fish and other body of water creatures can make for an exciting lesson – specially when the real items are slapped onto the centre of tables in the Art room (information technology may be worth checking out where these can be stored in betwixt form – staff rooms may have space in the freezer)!
Science equipment, inspired past this pencil notwithstanding life from a student of Grant Kniffen at Parkway North High School, U.s.a.:
Drawing exercises such equally this tin can be a neat way for making connections between other subject areas within the school. In this case, information technology might be possible to mimic a scientific experiment that students are currently learning about. Notation the stunning composition in this work, with the combination of slightly curving textbook images and text providing an appropriate groundwork to the detailed three-dimensional microscope.
Wooden mannequins, as in these black and white still life drawings by Class ten and Grade 11 students from Conway High School, United States, taught by Carla Owen. Jeff (left), Dylan (center) and Nathan (right):
Wooden mannequins can be dandy withal life additions, posed as if the effigy is interacting / responding to its environment. In this yet life cartoon lesson, varied line weight has been used to create depth and create focal areas inside the work.
For more line drawing examples, please read our comprehensive Line Drawing Guide for Fine art Students.
Armchairs, chairs or stools, as in this example past Daniel E. Munoz-Vidal:
Fine art classes may only have admission to mundane stools. Sometimes, nevertheless, an Fine art instructor will learn an old chair, sofa or carved wooden chair that tin can become a permanent improver to notwithstanding life collection. In this well composed drawing, chairs and tables have been positioned so that their forms intersect and piece up the page.
Dolls, train sets and other toys, such every bit this observational cartoon of a teddy bear completed as part of an AQA GCSE Fine art and Design project pupil past Holly Reynolds from King Edward Six Camp Hill School For Girls:
Yet life paintings of toys are a pop option amongst middle and high school Art students. Although there tin can be risks with drawing cartoon-like toys, or those with distorted proportions (it tin can be hard for an examiner to tell whether the drawing is badly proportioned rather than the toy itself, for example) items such as old and broken dolls, aboriginal teddy bears and intricate train sets make excellent still life cloth. This A3 drawing by Holly was completed from beginning-hand observation, in response to the topic 'Memories', using a range of graphite pencils (5H – 9B) and a putty eraser.
Bottles, vases, jugs and vessels (this topic was inspired by a Highcrest Academy Fine art Department Pinterest board), such as the famous Giorgio Morandi still life drawings, etchings and paintings:
Giorgio Morandi, a famous still life artist who died in 1964, is well known for his deceptively simple still life artworks, which repeat many familiar household items, such as vases, bowls and bottles. Morandi positions these with careful precision, with each object treated as if it were a sculptural entity: a formal exploration of space and form. His paintings in item have a subtle use of tone. The 1928 etching in a higher place, titled "Grande natura morta con la lampada a destra", may inspire students to produce pen drawings that accept a similar cross-hatching aesthetic.
Empty boxes, inspired by a drawing exercise completed by a pupil of Nicole Havekost:
Boxes provide a nifty gimmicky nevertheless life objects. At first glance boxes seem unproblematic to draw; they are comprised of primarily directly lines, flat planes, with little detail; however, this task demands a good understanding of perspective and challenges students to really use their eyes to observe the variation in tone. Previously unnoticed details begin to jump into vision: creases, text, peeling edges of cellotape. This activeness could be presented as a quick still life gesture drawing or a meticulous, detailed ascertainment of angles, planes, light and form.
Jewellery and treasure boxes, equally in these still life paintings past IGCSE Art and Design educatee, Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell College:
This work was produced within several cartoon lessons that asked students to produce still life paintings with dark backgrounds (such as the necklace shown on black acrylic paint) and work over other prepared grounds (for example, the nonetheless life on the left is completed using Carandache crayon upon watered down acrylic). The jewellery boxes provide students with the opportunity to represent three-dimensional space, while the jewellery itself adds glistening, detailed focal areas within the piece of work.
Preserved animals and other specimens in jars, such every bit these modernistic still life artworks by Cindy Wright:
In addition to insects, Science Departments often have wonderful preserved animal specimens that brand for groovy still life subjects. If these are unavailable, you might wish to create your own dramatic interpretation, based on the still life compositions above by Cindy Wright. These works force united states to meet the lifeless gaze of gutted fish coiled inside a glass fish basin.
Fruit and vegetables, inspired by Paul Cezanne'due south however life with apples:
Fruit and vegetables are cheap enough that big quantities tin be purchased for classroom utilise, allowing students to organise the still life arrangements themselves or in small groups. Dedicated students may bring more unusual items from home. Although a nevertheless life comprised of fresh food is unlikely to last longer than a week (less inside rambunctious classrooms) vegetables such as garlic, potatoes, onions, gourds and pumpkins tin be kept for a much longer duration. There is also the opportunity to include wooden tables and other still life items in the background. These famous even so life paintings by Paul Cezanne are titled 'Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier' (which means Pall, Jug and Fruit Basin) and 'The Basket of Apples' (the lower artwork). Both even so life paintings are completed using oil and canvas in the 1890s and judged by some to be amidst the best even so life paintings ever.
Vintage cameras, as in these collection of observational drawings past Year 9 student Dougal Burden from Takapuna Grammer School:
This exercise introduces students to unlike mediums and provides experience rendering a range of unlike reflective, smooth and faintly textured man-fabricated surfaces. It likewise provides great style to spark other Visual Art interests and share knowledge about early photographic techniques.
A glass of water, such as this instance by Hanna Asfour:
Although it is virtually incommunicable for a loftier school class to get to the end of a h2o-based lesson without somebody spilling something, this exercise can be a stunning and challenging task that really helps conquer the fear of transparent surfaces head-on. With expert lighting, this task allows students to render the glass, h2o and the sparkling tonal variations within the shadow. A job of this nature tin can be a great one-lesson activeness, peradventure ready as 'test' or one-off consignment.
A jug and loving cup of tea, with inspiration from cubist still life paintings by Juan Gris:
Afterward preparing the drawing surface with a painted ground and glued downward paper (some of which may have decorative patterns that mimic wood grain or a table cloth, for case), students may overlay fragments of observational drawings, from slightly distorted angles, with tone softly applied n the mode of Juan Gris. This synthetic cubist piece was completed in 1914 using oil and mixed media and is titled 'Breakfast'.
To see other background ideas, please read Painting on grounds: creative apply of media for Painting students.
Hands, equally inspired by this observational cartoon by Cath Riley:
Contemporary artist Cath Riley has produced a series of detailed, highly realistic graphite pencil drawings of hands, including many in which the manus is touching, squeezing or gripping homo flesh. Hands are an accessory that students are able to set up and brainstorm drawing immediately. Each can pose their manus in an original position and have this with them to draw from in whatever location. This makes easily an ideal bailiwick for quick still life sketches.
Marbles, spheres and assurance, inspired by Pedro Campos paintings:
Well known contemporary still life artist Pedro Campos creates hyper realistic nonetheless life paintings, such as the marble and golf ball oil on canvas piece of work, 'Camp Creek', to a higher place. Drawing marbles and other spherical objects challenges students to focus all of their attention upon color, tone and surface; capturing glistening reflections and textural variations to enhance the illusion of reality.
Shells, as in these artworks from the students of Elizabeth Jendek (from left to right): Marisa Leong, Supanan Lee, Miri Morita, Warin (Pinky) Rungsakaolert and Po Yuan, completed while studying at Thai Chinese International School, Samutprakarn, Thailand:
In addition to provided a wealth of varied visually interesting forms, shells are durable enough to survive the energy of a high school Art classroom. In this stunning unit of work, students have produced vibrant, high contrast oil pastel artworks. These works were completed after formally analysing the piece of work of Georgia O'Keeffe, working first-paw from still life arrangements, mirrors to help generate circuitous compositions.
Insects, such as these stippled pen drawings upon colored wash, completed by Grade 11 students Emery (left) and Caleb (right) from Conway High School, United States, under the direction of experienced Art teacher, Carla Owen:
Drawing insects can be challenging, due to difficulty sourcing first-manus imagery. It is sometimes possible to purchase dried and preserved insects in display cases and to use a magnifying glass to make the task of observing details easier (Science Departments often have a prepare of these). The striking examples to a higher place accept been completed using black pen applied in dots (stippled) to a watercolor footing.
Potted plants, succulents and cacti, inspired past Laura Garcia Serventi's illustrations on Etsy:
With an appropriate option of plants (ideally those that can survive long periods without attentive care) and interestingly shaped plant pots, this tin can grade the basis of a cracking still life painting lesson program. These works by Laura Garcia Serventi include a diverseness of contrasting establish forms and flowers, with different subtle patterns, pots positioned on a dramatic tiled floor.
Metal taps, silverware and other highly reflective objects, equally is illustrated in this video of how to draw a spoon past VamosART.
Many resource that demonstrate 'how to depict footstep-by-step' encourage students to draw by formula, rather than learning to see and record what is in front of them. This time lapse video is very helpful, nonetheless, as information technology provides expert insight into how tone can exist built upwards using low-cal and night pencils on mid-tone newspaper.
Origami or folded paper, inspired past this observational drawings past Sean Dooley, a graduate of Savannah Higher of Art and Design:
Folding paper tin can create stunning shadows and a mesh of intriguing angular lines. This example is one that is included in our list of substitute art lessons, and can involve students first constructing origami, earlier producing observational drawings in a range of unlike media.
Please view our list of substitute Art lessons for more one-off drawing lessons.
Bones and skeletons, as in this case past Twelvemonth eleven educatee Manisha Mistry, from ACG Strathallan College (please view her total IGCSE Art and Design Coursework project):
Folding newspaper can create stunning shadows and a mesh of intriguing angular lines. This example is 1 that is included in our list of substitute fine art lessons, and can involve students start constructing origami, earlier producing observational drawings in a range of different media.
Complex interiors and window panes, as in this Henri Matisse still life:
Titled 'Still life after Jan Davidsz De Heem's 'La Desserte'' this painting is Matisse'southward interpretation of a work by seventeenth-century Dutch painter Jan Davidsz de Heem. Cartoon influences from cubism, Matisse contructs the scene using intersecting angular lines. In this practise, the background may have on equal importance with the key nevertheless life, with open windows / table surfaces / surrounding items becoming a prominent role of the composition. This task may also go an 'inverted still life', where the still life arrangement is pushed into the foreground, with background items helping to set the scene and tell a story.
Old shoes and sandals, every bit in these examples past Vincent van Gogh:
The traditional 'even so life with old shoe' remains a pop choice among Art students. Shiny surfaces often dissimilarity metal buckles, twisted laces and furled edges of leather. Shoe polish and brushes can also be a great addition. These van Gogh still life paintings were completed using oil on canvas in the 1880s and are titled 'A pair of shoes' (peak) and 'Three pairs of shoes' (bottom).
Art-making equipment, such as is this example by Textiles Art teacher Gayle Bicknell, which was prepared as part of a lesson for her BTEC art class at Alton College, Hampshire, UK:
This topic lends itself to Jim Dine inspired charcoal yet life drawings – working with a range of mixed media and textural backgrounds. This teaching example past Gayle is a graphite drawing of a single pair of pair of scissors over a collaged groundwork that has and so been photographed and digitally manipulated.
Woodworking tools, every bit inspired by this education practise by Jaime Brett Treadwell, artist and full-time Professor who teaches foundation courses for all AFA programs offered at Delaware County Community College including Studio Arts, Graphic Design, and Photography:
In this task, students are encouraged to set tools upon a sheet of white paper, with a light source (such every bit an inexpensive table lamp) shining upon from an angle that creates interesting shadows. Students use a viewfinder to select a limerick from the arrangement, considering the human relationship between positive and negative spaces. The prototype is created using a range of experimental techniques, such as erasing back areas, rubbing the paper with napkins and then on. Visually pleasing tools that are scarred and battered with use tin oft be sourced at low price from 2nd paw shops (retrieve it is best to avoid those that may cause inadvertent injury). Every bit with above, woodworking tools are a great bailiwick matter to use while studying the piece of work of Jim Dine.
At that place are also keen ideas for tools in this smashing Highcrest Art Department Pinterest lath.
Weaving, as in this example by Year 11 IGCSE Art pupil Manisha Mistry, from ACG Strathallan College:
In this still life lesson students were required to research traditional flax weaving methods and brand their own experimental weaving. They then created observational drawings from these and photocopied the weaving for subsequent tasks. Weaving drawings offer the opportunity for students to exercise blending colors in a wide range of different mediums.
Musical instruments, as in this detail from a Pieter Claesz vanitas all the same life:
High school Music Departments are sometimes willing to lend instruments that tin be used in still life displays; with instruments overlapping in order to create interesting shadows, as in the detail of the oil painting above by Pieter Claesz. This piece of work is titled 'Vanitas Still Life with the Spinario' and was painted in 1628.
You may as well be interested in viewing this 100% AS Coursework project based upon an abstraction of instrument still life by Twelvemonth 12 Equally Art and Design student Nikau Hindin, ACG Parnell College.
Onetime books, such equally this example of a Dutch still life with books completed in 1628 (artist unknown):
Beautiful one-time books can frequently be purchased from second-hand shops. Schoolhouse English language, Geography, Science and History Departments also may have swell old textbooks that take been discarded by past students or are no longer used. Many of these may have student graphite, dates or other annotation in them that can provide welcome variety and visual interest in withal life drawings and paintings of books.
String, sticks and stones, inspired by a teaching exercise designed past Andrew Strachan (now teaching at ACG Senior College).
In this activity, students are presented with a drove of sticks, string and stones, and asked to create a sculpture by tying together the sticks and hanging a rock from this using the string. Observational drawings are so created of this, with the tension of the thin, taut cord contrasting the textured forest and stone.
Still life with flowers, inspired past these Vincent van Gogh sunflowers:
A drawing of flowers tin can go platitude, 'pretty' or uninspiring (calculation to the endless formulaic roses, hibiscus or lily flower drawings that make full the globe). Extreme care should be taken to guide students abroad from 'rote' or 'formulaic' drawing, where the flower is drawn from retentiveness or step-by-stride according to some predetermined design, without offset-hand observation of course or tone. You might cull uncommon flowers, or those that are damaged, dried or decayed, for case. Rather than in a flower pot or vase, the flowers might be scattered upon the ground, as in 'Iv cutting sunflowers' by van Gogh above. It is also worth noting that flower still life drawings and paintings tin can also exist a hit with family members, with many parents enthusiastically displaying blossom drawings (much more than so that with some of the other still life suggestions on this page)!
Lamps, lanterns and light bulbs, as in this charcoal drawing past Akrawczyk:
In addition to transparency and curving reflective surfaces, these however life objects often have thin wires and/or power cords – and often emit light themselves – making them an extra challenging and exciting object to draw.
Collections of popular contemporary foodstuffs – bright packages and heart catching labels – tin can be used to create stunning compositions, equally in this Tom Wesselmann all the same life. Many of these 'pop objects' have the do good that they are packaged and long-lasting, able to be stored for some time in an Art room cupboard.
A chaotic desk, inspired past this Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin however life:
Although Art students are often masters of the cluttered desk syndrome, this task can be set upwardly within a classroom with more purpose, so that the selected objects are part of a narrative, whereby the composition conveys a particular backstory and pregnant. In this Chardin nonetheless life, titled 'The Attributes of the Arts and the Rewards Which Are Accorded Them', completed using oil on canvas, objects take been selected to represent various creative disciplines – painting, cartoon, architecture and sculpture – and are arranged alongside a ribbon with a cross, the highest award an artist in this region and time could apparently receive. The work was completed using oil on canvass in 1766.
A busy pinboard, as in this still life painting by Jean-François de Le Motte:
Still life arrangements can exist hands pinned to classroom pinboards. This painting, completed in 1670, includes a painting within a painting, a letter to the creative person, a printed pamphlet and an accounting booklet.
Eggs, as in this AP Studio Fine art summer assignment fix by instructor Billy Hicks:
Students throughout the ages take voiced their frustration when they are set the task of applying tone to drawings of eggs, withal almost all see the value of the exercise when the work is consummate. This still life activity involves a contrast of textures, with the smooth eggs resting on textured material or crumpled paper towel to create a visually pleasing composition. Some other variation involves cartoon open egg shells, with lite falling beyond the concave and convex surfaces.
Rubbish / litter / discarded remains, as in this drawing by Brittany Lee, Year ten Art student at ACG Parnell College:
Samples of litter and other remains, such equally orange peelings, banana skins and apple tree cores tin brand excellent however life subjects. This work was completed using black Indian and h2o on wet-force cartridge paper. It was completed within one hour.
This drawing lesson also featured in our list of ideas for substitute Art teachers.
Seedpods, as inspired by this observational cartoon past IGCSE Art and Blueprint pupil, Claire Mitchell, ACG Strathallan College (you may also like to view this Highcrest Academy Fine art Pinterest board for inspiration):
Seedpods come in many intriguing organic shapes and forms. They typically last for a long time and are readily available – ofttimes in the school yard itself.
Shirts, dresses and drapery, as in these examples by the students of Kristy Patterson, Guymon High School:
Shirts, dresses and other clothing items, which might include coat hangers, zips, buttons, belts, buckles, items of adornment, besides equally traditional costumes, offer the opportunity to describe draped folded fabric alongside more complex accessories, pleats, seams and textile details. In the do above, students produce realistic drawings of a personal detail of clothing that are pinned to a display console (the panel can be shifted bated and placed in storage until the side by side form).
Random objects hanging from cord, as in these graphite drawings by the students of Jaime Brett Treadwell, artist and full-fourth dimension Professor who teaches foundation courses for all AFA programs offered at Delaware Canton Community College including Studio Arts, Graphic Design, and Photography:
A still life composition that is created from hanging objects has the presence of the string to create tension and linear elements, alongside unexpected shadows, angles and alignment of objects. It can too result in dramatic contemporary imagery, equally students hang and explore unusual subject matter.
You may also wish to view this high school art projection past Nikau Hindin, which contains images derived from decaying fruit and vegetables hanging on cord.
Cutlery and kitchen utensils, as in this warm-up drawing exercise by the students of artist and teacher Julie Douglas:
This practise is one of the most challenging on this list. The notwithstanding life drawing combines reflective surface, convex and concave forms with modest details and knotted string.
This work was before featured in How to Create an splendid Observational Drawing: 11 Tips for High School Art Students.
Did yous relish this list? Please share it with other Art teachers and students that y'all know!
Amiria has been an Art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the course design and assessment of pupil work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (Start Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Design Coursework Assessor.
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