Still-Life-in-Colour Chapter Notes | Arts (Kriti) Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

Introduction

 Still life has its roots in Indian art, where objects were depicted symbolically and formed an integral part of compositions. Around the 16th century, the depiction of objects transformed from symbolic to the primary subject of artworks. Artists began arranging various still objects, using light and shadow to create the illusion of life and three-dimensionality, leading to the genre of "still life". Today, still life is not limited to painting but also appears in photography, sculpture, and even advertisements.

A Few of My Favourite Things

• In still life, an interesting arrangement is important so that the eye explores each object, its contour, form, colour, and texture, and how it relates to other objects.
• Objects should be chosen from everyday life and culture, representing identity and belonging. Examples: basket, clock, ball, toy, shoes, trophies, flowers, fruits.
• Rare or unusual objects made by local artists can also be included with other objects that match well.
• Choose three to four objects with different materials, colours, textures, sizes, and dimensions.
• For the backdrop, use one or two large single-coloured cloth pieces. The colour should complement the objects, not distract from them. Any plain background material can be used.

Arranging the Objects

• Drape the cloth with natural folds.
• Place objects so they overlap slightly when viewed from different angles, making them look like one composition.
• Experiment with placement — objects can be upright, on their side, leaning, or raised.
• Light should come from one side to create tonalities and shadows. Use doors, windows, screens, curtains, or sheets to control or filter the light.

Observation and Drawing Steps

Step 1: Observe the Still Life from Your Angle

• Notice the area covered by the backdrop colours.
• Observe overlapping parts and spaces between objects.
• Look at shadows and highlights on the objects.
• See the openings or mouths of containers.

Step 2: Five Minutes Observation

• Decide if your drawing will fit better vertically or horizontally. Use maximum paper space.
• Observe each object’s size compared to the others.
• Note the lines and contours of each object.
• Identify shapes that combine to form each object.
• Look for symmetries and asymmetries.
• Identify hidden overlapping parts.
• Observe spaces between objects and the shapes of negative space.
• Notice the direction of light and shadows on the objects, cloth, and surface.

Step 3: Draw the Contour Using Light Lines

• Mark points of objects close to the edges to keep them within the frame.
• Mark the ratio and proportion of objects. Use a pencil to measure proportions.
• Draw hidden basic shapes first, fitting them into your marked frame.
• Complete the contour and add details with light lines.

Step 4: Colour the Still Life

• Choose any colouring medium and try different techniques for tones and shades.
• Experiment with mixing colours and using different sizes and colours of dots, lines, strokes, and patches.
• Techniques include:
  • Stippling with sketch pens
  • Stippling with oil pastels
  • Hatching with colour pencils
  • Brush strokes using poster colour

Artists Who Are Known for Their Still Life

• Paul Cezanne – French artist of the 19th century known for experimenting with new painting techniques that were not widely accepted during his time.
• Krishna Howlaji Ara – Indian artist from the 20th century, member of the Progressive Artists Group in Mumbai, inspired by global artists, famous for his still life paintings.