Still Life for Drawing

[30 Minutes]

A still life is a picture of something that doesn’t move. It can be a drawing or a painting. Famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne were known for their still life paintings. Light and shadows play a very important part in a still life drawing. The artist studies where the light and shadows fall and then reproduces this image. Create your own still life drawing and you may even wish to give away as a present.

You'll need:

• an object to draw ( vase, bottle, soup can, milk bottle, etc.) • watercolors • pencil • cardboard • white tempera paint • paint brushes

What to do:

1. If possible, print out these directions. Read them through together before you begin.
2. Together, gather everything you’ll need and always remember art safety.
3. Take a piece of cardboard and let your child paint it white.
4. Let dry.
5. As the paint is drying, together collect flowers, plants, weeds, branches - anything you’d like to paint.
6. Choose your container and then with your child, place what you have collected inside the container. This will be what you will paint.
7. Let your child begin by using the pencil to sketch the still life on the white cardboard.
8. Remind him to look for shadows and how the light falls.
9. Ask him to use the watercolors to paint the background of the still life. He may wish to use a light color for the background.
10. Next let him paint the sketched image of the vase and flowers.
11. Together, watch how the watercolors blend into the white tempera painted background.
12. Experiment with different colors and shades.
13. Let the painting dry.
14. You and your child may wish to give this as a Father's Day present.

Useful information:

My mom and I like to make a presents. Sometimes we have a rainy summer day and we spend the day making presents. Mom and I painted a flowery still life for dad. I hope he likes it. (Jeremiah, age 11)