Basic Rules of Still Life Setup

Abstract

The article describes the basic principles of setting up a still life, based on the author’s 50 years of experience as an artist and 40 years of experience as an artist-teacher. Anyone acquainted with drawing will likely understand these clear recommendations which formulate the rules for arranging a still life and make it possible to create compositions built upon the basic laws of visual perception, the principles of subordination among minor and major elements, the organization of the notional center and peripheral parts of a still life, the competent layout of still life planes, meaningful work with contrasts and rhythms, textures and masses. The rules for the location of the brightest tonal and color contrasts, as well as the interaction of bright and neutral colors are described. The article characterizes the method of grouping the colors and composing a still life as an entity made up of unique elements. The author explains the basic rules of composition in still life painting and helps to avoid typical mistakes in the setup of a still life. The article is primarily intended for artists teaching still life painting, but will also be useful to students of art schools at all levels, professional artists and art historians.