STILL LIFES AREN'T BORING

When you first start as an artist, or if you are walking through any art museum you see tons and tons of still lifes. Many people imagine it is the basis of all art forms, you know once you've practiced with enough boring things like apples and oranges then you can start to branch out to figures. But, still lifes weren't even apart of the Western Art World until the late 16th Century. Before then almost all paintings were religious or documentary. And so if any still lifes were made they still held religious symbolism.

The first types of still lifes that were created were of course within Egyptian tombs. They would have artists paint any sort of riches from food to items on the walls of the tomb thinking that in the afterlife they would be there for the deceased. Some of the other earliest recounts of still lifes were within Pompeii and were Roman mosaics used for decoration and signs of hospitality. None of the still lifes up until the Dutch and Flemish paintings in the late 16th Century were what you'd think are typical still lifes we see covering museums today. The Dutch and Flemish painters were in a craze for still lifes because of the combination of religious images being banned in the Dutch Reformed Protestant Church (which led to the symbolism within still lifes) and the simple obsession with horticulture that the Dutch had.

Egyptian wall painting of food (http://www.timetrips.co.uk/still_life_history.htm)

uncovered still life found at Herculaneum showing Roman still life (https://sketchesandscratches.wordpress.com/tag/vanitas/)

Willem Kalf, Still Life with Ewer, Vessels and Pomegranate, oil on canvas, mid-1640s, The J. Paul Getty Museum

Jan van Huysum, 1723, oil on panel, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (http://www.essentialvermeer.com/dutch-painters/huysum.html)

Something funny and interesting that I found about still lifes is that there was a genre of still lifes known as "breakfast paintings" which would be the presentation of the upper class breakfasts while also a religious reminder not to be gluttonous.

Willem Claeszoon Heda, Breakfast Table with Blackberry Pie, 1631, Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister

As you can imagine, still lifes evolved along with the many art movements, being the cornerstone of all styles and genres of art. You can find a still life of any genre and style of art you desire and probably by any artist you desire as well. It is the basis of all artists today and a great way to study the aesthetic elements, but it shouldn't be thrown aside as a beginners form of art.

Ori Gersht, Blow Up, photographs and videos, 2007

Still lifes allow the artist to impose any sort of composition and arrangement of elements within the artwork. This sort of freedom allows for many styles and genres of art to take place, which led to how contemporary still lifes will include two-dimensional or three-dimensional mixed media and sometimes even video or sound.

Next time you think Still Lifes are "boring" or "too beginner", think again.

CALLIGRAPHY IN ART

Calligraphy and Typography were used in art forms dating back to around 600 BC. Many different areas of the world used Calligraphy as not only forms of writing but as artwork as well. Depending upon the region, different styles were also used.

Originated as a visual art form of writing and eventually some artists even used it strictly as an art form, leaving the words left behind and just using the strokes and linework. Now, I could go on and on about the origins of Calligraphy all around the world but here is the generic breakdown: Each general region (Western, East Asia, South Asia, Islamic) had a set of rules and shapes to be used while writing calligraphy. Calligraphy included a set rhythm and a geometrical order to the lines on the page even down to each character having a set order in which the strokes must be made to make each letter/symbol. Often a "carpet" page would be used as well within books, a carpet page being a page with not only the words but also a fully decorated colored shapes as well. Any irregularity of style, size or color increases the value even if it is considered illegible.

Calligraphy from each general region has endless different branches and styles. Even without having to study years and years of Calligraphy history, everyone can admire the amazing and technical flow of historic and modern calligraphy (and I'm not just talking about wedding invitations).

I'll show you some of my favorites:

Page from The Book of Kells, Western Calligraphy, Ireland

Islamic Calligraphy Art

Islamic Calligraphy Art even create pictures strictly from the brushstrokes used in Calligraphy

Calligraphy in Oriya font

Then there are Contemporary styles used today.

Contemporary Asian Calligraphy found in the Suzhou Museum

As a newcomer to the ways of Calligraphy, I have found that following the specific brushstrokes is both a challenge and dependent on focus but also quite relaxing. It is easy to pick up and good for the everyone to attempt and easy to add your own personal touch. It's a great skill to acquire even if you only use it for your wedding invitations (but they can be the most uniquely beautiful and artistic wedding invitations!)