Still Life Paintings
As the name suggests, still life paintings refers to the reproduction of natural but inanimate objects and domestic articles. According to opinions and studies, some of the early still life paintings were created by the Egyptian painters that adorned the walls of the tombs. The common belief was that the paintings drawn on the tombs, were usually food and drink, would turn into reality and can be used by the deceased. Similar instances of still life paintings have also been found in Roman frescoes. However, still life paintings are known to have become popular since the 17th century in the Western Art culture. The form of painting has been particularly popular among the various artists because, it allows more leverage to the artists in designing and arranging the subject of the painting, according to personal preferences rather than portraits and landscape paintings, where certain restrictions and rules have to be maintained.
Still life paintings can be created on different bases that include canvas, papers, and hardboards while using various coloring mediums such as watercolors, pastels, oil, or pencil shading. Evidences show that flowers and fruits have been two of the most commonly chosen subject matters by various artists. Still life paintings can be produced in beautiful light and dark shades, with a combination of colors reflecting the artist’s perception of things and command over art. It is said that over the years, moving beyond its decorative aspect, still life paintings have been a presentation of realism. Some of the renowned artists famous for still life representations are Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Juan Gris, and Georges Braque.
A number of online painting galleries exhibit and sell still life paintings created by different artists. They accumulate the most famous and unique collections, and present them online for display and sale. Online guides for painting still life works are also available for young and aspiring artists. Representing a mirror image of the chosen subject, still life paintings really require a sense of detail and artistic perfection, in order to represent them as truly as the real object.