“A painter can say all he wants to with fruit or flowers or even clouds.”
– Édouard Manet
Still life artworks have long held an esteemed position in the world of visual art and storytelling, offering a wide panorama through which artists can capture the true essence of its form, light and shade, and its vitality. Right from the elaborate and intricate depictions of the Baroque still life paintings to the discreet portrayal of contemporary images of still life objects, the genre continues to captivate artists and viewers alike. Through this blog, we would like to embark on a fascinating journey and find out the appeal of still life artworks that have a prominent place in juried art competitions, where creativity meets technology in a digitized era.
The Evolution of Contemporary Still Life Paintings
Still life painting has evolved significantly over centuries, treading through a long passage of transformation and transition to the modern expressions. We can look at some of the famous still life paintings by master artists, such as Caravaggio’s ‘Basket of Fruit’ or Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers,’ that are much appreciated for their inner symbolism and the intricate details. These historical masterpieces encourage and inspire the new age still life artists who review those traditional themes through brand new lenses and unique mediums, styles, and innovative outlooks.
In the modern era, still life artworks are no longer limited to fruits and flowers. Contemporary still life paintings have much more unconventional objects to include like technological gadgets, industrial tools, utensils, cityscape and even abstract forms, reflecting the change in society and narratives. This shift has changed the overall manifestation of still life portraits, making them one of the most revered themes for the juried art shows! Watch out for the themed competitions and online art shows organized by some of the reputed online art galleries like TERAVARNA and you’ll notice how they roping in more artists to work for this genre!
Online Still Life Art Show: Work on the Canvas for Innovation
So, if you are an artist, sculptor, photographer, or visual art specialist, you can transform a mundane looking object into a versatile theme of art and get it selected for a juried art competition. This way, go on pushing the boundaries of the genre. Choose any theme of your choice, from traditional pans or pots, flora or fauna or the avant-garde themes, inviting diverse interpretations that captivate both jurors and a global viewership.
In today’s world of modernization, more online art competitions are turning towards the issues of sustainability and ecological consciousness. Artists come up with still life watercolor paintings to showcase the transient beauty of the environment, with works of art such as melting ice or decaying leaves, drawing attention to the fragility of our mother nature. You can also incorporate the cultural narratives into the work of still life, like a congregation, a mass meeting, a debacle, where the artist is keen to portray the vibes and the narrative of heritage, customs, identity, and social standing.
What Mediums Suit the Best for Still Life Artworks
Medium plays a vital role in still life painting and artworks, while oil color paintings evoke a deep textural feel and still life watercolor paintings show a delicate and fluid body with a transparent and free flow. These days, contemporary artists love to experiment with the medium of watercolor paintings for the convenience of layering, light, and spontaneous flow of colors that merge seamlessly with the themes. While you opt for juried art shows to showcase your art, the medium is also highlighted as they would like to see how you can manoeuvre the challenges of using this fluid medium to get the optimum results.
Photography as a Popular Medium for Still Life Artwork:
Photography has been a popular medium for this kind of portrayals while photographers steal all the spotlights with their intimate and introspective versions of still life creations through the lenses. The light and shades, exposures and aperture help them recreate the objects and elevate them into the realm of masterpieces.
Amazing Still Life Paintings and Creations: Trends and Tricks
Artists even get intrigued by famous still life paintings while they get ready for the art competitions. Cezanne’s arrangements of fruits, or Rene Magritte’s surreal portrayal of still life objects haunts the painters to give them a contemporary twist, by adding some geometry or abstraction to them. And, what you get is nothing but awe-inspiring! The Dutch painters’ glorious still life creations get a new dimension of cinematic flair by the new age artists.
Here are some of the recurrent still life motifs and trends that artists like to explore:
Food and Kitchen Utensils: Culinary objects, from artisanal breads to exotic spices, everything gets highlighted to celebrate the tapestry of real life.
Urban Landscapes: Urban landscapes have always been inspiring the contemporary artists who are fascinated to portray the broken shafts of glass, a graffiti, a discarded room, tools, and utensils, etc. to create a bold narrative
Flora & Fabrics: Like the olden times, the seasonal splendors are still occupying the canvas space of the modern artists, with images of fruit bowl, fabrics, upholsteries, evoking a sense of nostalgia and timelessness.
Who are the Icons of Contemporary Still Life Art
Some of the innovators and creators of contemporary still life are artists like Audrey Flack, celebrated for her larger than life known super-realistic still life portraits, and Giorgio Morandi, much acclaimed for his imageries of jars, bottles, etc. inspiring a new set of dialogues. Contemporary still life artists like to blend realism with abstraction seamlessly, creating pieces that resonate aesthetically and as concepts.
Why Still Life Artworks Endure: Weaving Tales of Life
Still life portraits, photographs, installations, sculptures make these objects timeless and intimate like breathing life into the canvases. This play emotion makes these artworks appealing and much familiar to us, as viewers, artists, art-lovers. No matter if it’s a bouquet of roses with the fleeting beauty of a vintage car representing the old-world charm, these compositions resonate deeply on our psyche. If you have been working with TERAVARNA, one of the top online art galleries for juried art shows, you must know how they cater to a global viewership to reach out with your immersive art.
Everything must go through a change, so does the still life genre. So, embrace the new techniques to depict the ever-changing artistic landscape. Be it through still life watercolor paintings or mixed media installations, this dynamic genre never stops evoking awe in the eyes of the spectators. Take up this form to reflect and connect to a greater viewer base, to showcase the complexities and challenges of contemporary life captured through the lenses of an artist, weaving fascinating tales.
