An understanding of composition is essential for anyone wishing to compose an image that both functions visually as a whole and that captivates an audience. We will apply a visual analysis of the genre of still life, from Ancient Roman times until more recently, to an artistic practice. Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to harmoniously compose simple objects commonly found within the kitchen or living spaces of the house, for drawing and other media. From week 4 onwards, students will have the option of their own choice of materials to work with, with individual tuition tailored to the materials chosen.
Weeks 1-3: Still Life with Ink wash, Weeks 4–8: Receive tuition employing one or multiple materials of your choosing such as chalk pastel, sanguine red, black and white chalk, pen and ink, gouache or watercolour on white or coloured papers. Still Life objects required will be discussed from week to week.
- What is Composition? and What is Still Life? - The first class will introduce you to composition with a broad analysis of its underlying principles. We will then see how this has been applied throughout art history to the genre of still life and the arrangement of objects.
- Ancient Roman Still Life Painting - We will discuss the use of Trompe-l'œil or the illusion of depth in still life, as evident in surviving wall paintings from Rome, Herculaneum and Pompeii.
- Seventeenth century Dutch Golden Age Still Life - In this class, we will look further at still life as a subject. Examining the vanitas still life and the use of objects, such as decaying fruit, dying flowers and insects as metaphors for the transience of life.
- The Baroque Neapolitan Still Life School - We will look at how a sense of drama and action can be inferred, even within the relatively static context of still life objects.
- Spanish still life of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries - We will examine the minimal bodegón still lives of Spain and their depiction of pantry objects.
- Chardin and eighteenth century French still life - We will examine how to employ “lost” and “found” edges to further convey atmosphere within a still life drawing.
- 1x Indian ink
- 2x watercolour brushes sizes 8
- 1x HB graphite pencil or oil based black / sanguine red chalk pencil
- 1x kneadable eraser
- 1x stanley knife for sharpening
- 2x A3 watercolour paper OR A3 sketchbook that can take wet mediums
- 1x cardboard box to control lighting and space – around 37.5 x 27.5 x 38 cm
- 1x small water jar
IMPORTANT: Please arrive to the first class with all the relevant materials. A lack of materials is not just a handicap to you but to the ability to teach. Materials cost is not included in a course fee. In the event of a course being cancelled WEA cannot be held responsible for the purchase of any course materials. We therefore suggest you purchase your materials closer to the time of the course commencing.
The following stockists below are examples of places you can buy art materials from:
- Art on King: 199-201 King Street, Newtown. Ph: 9516 2342
- Eckersley's Art and Craft Store: 93 York Street, Sydney. Ph: 9299 4151. Also located in various locations throughout Greater Sydney.
- Parkers Art Supplies: 3 Cambridge Street, The Rocks. Ph: 9247 9979
- The Art Scene: 914 Victoria Road, West Ryde. Ph: 9807 6900
- The Sydney Art Store: 11 Salisbury Street, Botany. Ph: 9699 2162
You can also purchase materials from places such as Dymocks, Officeworks, Spotlight, Lincraft or online art suppliers such as Art Shed Online.
