The term “still life” describes a work of art that shows inanimate objects from the natural or man-made world, such as fruit, flowers, dead game, and/or vessels like baskets or bowls. Or simply put still lifes depict things that are “still” and don’t move.

 

Still life is a genre that spans art history. It is found everywhere from ancient Egyptian tombs—decorated with paintings of objects from daily life—to works of modern art where it provided opportunities to experiment with new techniques, forms, and styles. Still lifes may be painted, drawn, photographed, or sculpted. They can be in any medium and be inspired by anything. 

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My still life paintings are in soft pastel which are made of pigment, a filler (a white mineral which serves to give opacity and body), and a binder (a weak adhesive) that loosely holds the two powdery substances together. Their history can be traced back to the 16th century and Lenardo di Vinci. Because of their luscious, velvety texture and deep, rich colors they have been popular with artists ever since, including Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec. 

 

Sometimes referred to as “dry painting,” this medium offers an incredible range of colors with the ability to blend hues in the same way as paint. However, unlike paint, pastel reflects light from the facets of its finely divided particles and the air spaces in between them, an effect evoking a sense of white light. This physical phenomenon accounts for its velvety, matte quality. 

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Soft pastel paintings will last forever if appropriately framed and displayed away from temperature fluctuations and moisture.

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Click on any of the images below to read more about the story of each painting.