Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Introduction
As Part of your homework tasks, you have to complete the following
project and submit it to your teacher. This gives you two weeks to
complete this homework task.
It is important that you plan this task carefully, spending some time
each week on it and not leaving it until last minute.
You have to choose a still life painting by an artist, whose work you
admire. You can choose a painting from any art period, as long as it is a
Still Life.
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
What is a Still Life?
The term Still Life is a name given to a painting that consists of a group
of inanimate objects: - Objects that cannot move on their own. The
group of objects could include anything from a vase of flowers; a bowl
of fruit; a cook’s kitchen table; clothes over a chair, etc.
Examples of Still Life paintings are shown on the front cover of your
project and also along the top and bottom edge of each page.
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Instructions
As with all projects, this one should include:
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Front cover
Contents page
Introduction
Biography of your chosen artist *
Description of one of the artist’s still life paintings*
Conclusion
Bibliography
* These are the most important parts of the project.
Don’t forget your own name!
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Presentation
You may present your work in either written form or in
PowerPoint.
• Use illustrations to enhance your work.
• If you select the PowerPoint presentation, your talk should
last for 5 minutes.
• Your teacher will take an electronic copy of your talk for
future reference.
• Time will be allocated to allow you to present your work in
this manner.
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Where to find information?
Books in the: library, school, home and the internet.
Visit an Art gallery
Try to get a postcard of the still life; it will make your task much
easier.
Put any information you gather into your own words.
Copying passages directly from books or the internet is of no value
to you or your teacher; your teacher will recognise a change in
writing style.
Make this work your own
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Biography
A biography consists of information about the artist’s life. Such as:
• Date and place of birth
• Place of training and influence, if known
• Contemporaries
• Other paintings by the same artist
• Interesting facts
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Your biography should be between 100 – 200 words.
Do not exceed this limit.
You can refer to your artist by their full name or surname only.
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Description of a painting; the most important section.
In this part, you have to describe your chosen painting in as much detail as possible.
The description can be broken down into the following sections:
• Subject matter
• Composition
• Visual elements: line; shape; tone; colour; texture; pattern; form.
(Your artist probably used just some of these)
• Application of paint
• Personal opinion
All information given is for you to use as a guide. You may find that you write more
about one area more than another, but do try to cover all the points mentioned.
If you do not understand any part of this, you should ask for some help: ask your
parent/carer or your art & design teacher.
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Subject Matter
100-200 words
What the painting is of or what it is about.
The subject matter will vary from one painting to another. It would usually be
the first thing you noticed about the painting. Mention the size of the painting if
you have this information also mention what media (art materials) have been
used to make the painting.
Describe as many objects in the painting as you can.
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Composition
30-50 words
How the artist has arranged or placed the subject matter on the canvas.
Artists, like photographers, plan their work carefully.
They will often deliberately place one piece of subject matter next to another to
create a special effect.
This will include the following: foreground; background; positioning of objects;
focal point (most important part).
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Visual elements
30-50 words
How the artist has used the visual elements of line, shape, tone colour, texture,
pattern and form. No piece of art can be produced without using some or all of
the visual elements.
A strong source of light coming from one side of the painting to emphasise how
the artist has used tone to create a three dimensional look or form. Perhaps
very few colours have been used, such as oranges, yellows and greens. This is
referred to as a restricted palette.
Blues and oranges would be referred to as complimentary colours.
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Application of Paint
20-40 words
How the artist has put the paint on the canvas.
Mention the type of paint your artist has used. How has it been put onto the
canvas or paper?
Texture and Paint Surface: How has the artist applied the paint?
To describe how the paint looks, mention if the paint is:
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Thick and textured
Thin and watery
Little short dabs
Long bold brush strokes
Smooth with no brush strokes showing
Colour spread with a palette knife
Style: Is the painting realistic in style? Does the artist use perspective? Does it
show distance? Is it stylized, caricatured, outlines, distorted, childlike, flat,
abstract etc.?
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Personal Opinion/Conclusion
20-40 words
Your own thought and feelings are about your chosen painting.
Do you think this is a successful painting? Has the artist painted it well? What do
you like best about it? Why? Does the painting make you feel happy, sad,
excited, scared, frightened, depressed etc.?
Name another piece of work by the same artist. (It does not have to be a still
life)
Which piece do you prefer?
Art & Design Block 1 Self Study Project. Still Life
Words to help
Colour: Bright, Bold, Strong, Vivid, Lively, Striking, Vibrant, Light, Subtle, Weak, Dull, Muddy, Pale,
Lifeless, Rich, Brilliant, Warm, Cold, Organic, primary, Secondary, Tertiary, complimentary
Line: Thick, thin, Straight, Curved, Vertical, Horizontal, Flowing, Cross-hatched, Broken, Ragged, Long,
Short, Fine, Diagonal
Scale: Proportion, Size, Dimension, Perspective
Texture: Silky, Soft, Smooth, Flat, Furry, Shiny, Rough, Course, Bumpy, Crinkled, Scaly, Jagged,
Brushstroke, Random, Grainy, Scratched
Style:
Abstract-not real, Images not recognisable
Realistic – Looks real, as in a photograph
Decorative – Image covered in patterns
Stylized – Not quite realistic, colour is enhanced, bold dark outlines around objects
Flat – Images have no difference in tone (bold, single colour)