A still life is a painting or drawing of objects. The objects are usually fruit, flowers, bottles and other things that do not move.
Take a moment to look at these still lifes of fruit. What fruit do you recognize? What favorite fruits would you include in your own still life?
Henry O. Tanner (American, 1859 – 1937), “Still Life with Apples,” 1890s. Oil on canvas, 19 1/2 × 25 1/2 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; The Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection of African American Art. GMOA 2011.604.
De Scott Evans (American, 1847 – 1898). “Still Life with Pears,” 1888. Oil on canvas with original painted wood frame, 12 × 10 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; University purchase on the occasion of the museum’s Fiftieth Anniversary. GMOA 1999.5.
Charles Ethan Porter (American, 1847 – 1923), “Still Life: Two Baskets of Strawberries,” ca. 1900, Oil on canvas, 13 3/4 × 21 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; The Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Collection of African American Art. GMOA 2012.145.
Marsden Hartley (American, 1877 – 1943), “Fruit Still Life,” ca. 1911 – 12. Oil on canvas, 20 1/8 × 20 1/8 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Eva Underhill Holbrook Memorial Collection of American Art, Gift of Alfred H. Holbrook. GMOA 1945.46.
Now it is your turn to make a work of art inspired by fruit. You are going to make a print using different fruits.
You will need:
- a variety of fruits like strawberries, lemons, starfruit and apples
- paint
- paper
- knife
- kraft paper or newspaper
To make your still life:
- Cover your work surface with paper for easy clean-up.
- Help your little one cut the fruit in half.
- Pour a thin layer of paint onto a plate.
- Press fruit into the paint and then press paint-covered fruit on the paper.
- Keep printing fruit until you think your work of art is complete.
- Let it dry and hang it somewhere special.