Image via Wikipedia

Still Life

Outcome: To understand what a still life is, a drawing or painting or other art form, created from observing ‘life’.  To practice the fine art of observation-to see what you are looking at, not what you expect to be there.  To introduce symmetry in nature and to link the art project to things they are studying in the classroom in the fall: i.e. sunflowers and apples. 

Art History

Show famous still life paintings and artists. (I always do Van Gogh, his sunflower paintings, Wayne Thiebaud for his wonderful paintings of food, Demuth for lovely water color, William Michael Harnett for super realism, and Georgia O’Keefe for her paintings of flowers).  Talk about the difference between a portrait and a self portrait.

Materials

White paper, 8 ½ x 11, colored pencils or crayons being sure to provide a variety of colors and 9×12 construction paper of various colors to mount the finished still lives on.  You will also need  apples of various sizes and types and colors, and a lot of sunflowers providing at least one for every two children, and various reproductions of still life work, preferably something with fruit and flowers for the teacher to talk about and the children to examine.  For the teacher, a white board and dry erase markers, or a large piece of white paper on which to create a sample still life with markers.

Finished Product

A still life that can be displayed and cherished, and a better understanding of the type of art known as the still life.

Time Table

Two sessions, one of making an apple still life and one of making a sunflower.

Steps

1. Show examples of still life and talk about why a still life is different from a landscape and different from a portrait.  Talk about the various artists and show examples.  Note how some things are painted to look super realistic, while other artists made things more stylized.  (Compare Harnett and O’Keefe)
2. Set up tables in advance with an apple on each place, or one for each child to share.
3. On a white board, or other large piece of paper create a still life looking carefully at the apple, noting the many colors, how it isn’t exactly round, where the stem is, etc.  Fill the page with the object and remind the children that they need to do the same.  No tiny little apples in a sea of white!
4. Pass out crayons, white paper, and mirrors to each child.  Write names on the back of papers and then flip over.
5. Encourage the children to look at the apples carefully, noting any flaws or color changes before they begin to draw. Walk around and help where needed, asking the children to work with mistakes rather than correcting or crossing out.  Mistakes are how we learn and in art they are beautiful!
6. When children are finished have them mount on colored paper and display in their own still life gallery before sending home. 
7. Repeat steps for the second session, but substitute the sunflowers for the apples.  Enjoy!

Related Lesson Plans

A Self-Portrait: Art Lesson Plans for Kindergarten through First Grade

Getting Kids in Touch: Texture Activities for the Young

An Art Lesson Plan for Kindergarten through Second Grade: Animal Pinch Pots