What quirky, modernish items can I paint as part of a still life?
June 14, 2019 2:14 PM Subscribe
Hi mefites!
I am getting better at oil painting and would like to do a series of still lifes. I like the idea of painting modern items in a kind of old master style, a bit like this (I am still improving!!).
Can anyone suggest any fun modern items I can paint that would look interesting and quirky, perhaps next to something more traditional? Ideally this would be themed to rooms (kitchen, kids' room, living room etc) but not necessarily. I'd just like to feature something which catches the eye.
Thanks lovely people!
Can anyone suggest any fun modern items I can paint that would look interesting and quirky, perhaps next to something more traditional? Ideally this would be themed to rooms (kitchen, kids' room, living room etc) but not necessarily. I'd just like to feature something which catches the eye.
Thanks lovely people!
Check out joshua.huyser on Instagram - lots of kitchen implements but also record sleeves, wrenches, fisher price little people, earplugs, tape dispensers, gift bows.
posted by sestaaak at 2:37 PM on June 14, 2019
posted by sestaaak at 2:37 PM on June 14, 2019
casette tapes, lemon squeezers, sunglasses! all paired with fruit and flowers. skulls and books are pretty old timey still lifey.
posted by speakeasy at 2:43 PM on June 14, 2019
posted by speakeasy at 2:43 PM on June 14, 2019
Best answer: All the best still life paintings have obtuse allegorical meanings.
The decay of home cooking and nourishment: shiny soup ladle beside steaming styrofoam cup noodle on a table with grains and takeout receipts
Hygiene is vital to the purity of the soul: foaming soap dispenser foaming onto portrait of Marie Kondo on a stack of folded washcloths
Within idleness lies seeds of creation: small broken terracotta pots of dirt from which sprout lego castles
posted by Mizu at 3:01 PM on June 14, 2019 [13 favorites]
The decay of home cooking and nourishment: shiny soup ladle beside steaming styrofoam cup noodle on a table with grains and takeout receipts
Hygiene is vital to the purity of the soul: foaming soap dispenser foaming onto portrait of Marie Kondo on a stack of folded washcloths
Within idleness lies seeds of creation: small broken terracotta pots of dirt from which sprout lego castles
posted by Mizu at 3:01 PM on June 14, 2019 [13 favorites]
I have a great Hockney poster with a bottle of Evian next to irises.
posted by sallybrown at 3:03 PM on June 14, 2019
posted by sallybrown at 3:03 PM on June 14, 2019
avocado toast. Freakshakes. Beauty blenders. Kitchen Aids. Instapots.
darker: MAGA hats.
posted by runincircles at 3:14 PM on June 14, 2019
darker: MAGA hats.
posted by runincircles at 3:14 PM on June 14, 2019
I know more than one person who would be interested in a series of different brands/flavours of seltzer. While they are not exactly modern Facebook groups like now fizzing have given them new life.
posted by phil at 3:20 PM on June 14, 2019
posted by phil at 3:20 PM on June 14, 2019
Fidget spinners?
posted by sailoreagle at 4:48 PM on June 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by sailoreagle at 4:48 PM on June 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Eurorack synthesis modules?
Distortion pedals? (Google it.)
Or - go to a grocery store and just walk around and look at the stuff they sell. I think Andy Warhol kinda mined the fuck out of canned goods, but the average US grocery store sells Hot Wheels, "exotic" asian foods, beauty products, 5 or 6 varieties of ice cream scoops, bizarre hot sauces, etc.
I think Dennis Wojtkiewicz proved that Fruits and Vegetables are an eternal archetype.
posted by doctor tough love at 5:23 PM on June 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
Distortion pedals? (Google it.)
Or - go to a grocery store and just walk around and look at the stuff they sell. I think Andy Warhol kinda mined the fuck out of canned goods, but the average US grocery store sells Hot Wheels, "exotic" asian foods, beauty products, 5 or 6 varieties of ice cream scoops, bizarre hot sauces, etc.
I think Dennis Wojtkiewicz proved that Fruits and Vegetables are an eternal archetype.
posted by doctor tough love at 5:23 PM on June 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
Wind-up toys. (Of course they’ve been around a while but there are so many to choose from!)
posted by The Deej at 5:33 PM on June 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by The Deej at 5:33 PM on June 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
My friend paints stuff like this, often creating visual puns. Check out his work for ideas.
posted by juliapangolin at 5:53 PM on June 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by juliapangolin at 5:53 PM on June 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks so much for responses!
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 7:32 AM on June 15, 2019
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 7:32 AM on June 15, 2019
Cat on/in printer.
posted by calgirl at 10:42 AM on June 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by calgirl at 10:42 AM on June 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
A load of interesting fruit with a bar of chocolate just sitting in the corner of the arrangement.
A recreation of a fancy old timey portrait using a doll.
Some citrus fruit with one of those two handled squeezers and some of the fruit mid squeeze.
One of your own chairs, just on its own.
posted by quacks like a duck at 1:11 AM on June 16, 2019
A recreation of a fancy old timey portrait using a doll.
Some citrus fruit with one of those two handled squeezers and some of the fruit mid squeeze.
One of your own chairs, just on its own.
posted by quacks like a duck at 1:11 AM on June 16, 2019
Garden Gnome.
posted by thenormshow at 6:40 AM on June 16, 2019
posted by thenormshow at 6:40 AM on June 16, 2019
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posted by Cuke at 2:28 PM on June 14, 2019 [3 favorites]