The Impossible Genre: Still Life
You Should Own Art, Edition 13
Still Life is the weirdest of the genres. Pictures of things: most often, ordinary things. By what compulsion have artists rendered these super boring objects over and over again across the centuries? And why do we, the audience, find them endlessly fascinating?
Perhaps the reason is the impossibility in the definition. Still Life. Still. Life. Life that has been stilled. If the enduring state of the universe is entropy, then still life is impossible. Being ourselves entropic creatures, we cannot avoid embedding that little bit of chaos into whatever we make, regardless of however serene the intent. And those notes of chaos are what we see in the work. They are inevitably alive.
Or, it could be sheer decorative utility. A bowl of fruit in the kitchen, a vase of flowers in the bath. They just dang work. As we shall see from this month’s selection of works, the range of expression is super broad. So, my take is that the enduring appeal of the the Still Life is the sum of both the cosmic and quotidian.
“Oaxaca Studio”
Eric Day Chamberlain
Oil, 14 x 18 inches
USD$700
I really like Eric’s work. It’s got that loose yet considered style that is often attempted, but pretty near to impossible to pull off. I also love how he uses color to define space and volume in his works. This would be great to look at everyday.
You can buy this work via the Lynn Hanson Gallery here.
Eric’s Instagram
“Vessels (blue) 2”
Leah Harper
Pencil and ink on board, 6 x 6 inches
USD$375
This is a delicate and elegant little work. Just lovely. Leah has quite a few variations on this work, all of them have this same refined vibe. You should take a look.
You can buy this work through Artspace here.
Leah’s Instagram
Leah’s website
“Birds”
Anna Valdez
Archival print on natural fine art paper, 24 × 24 inches
Limited edition of 50
USD $150
This is such a bright and playful work. While the birds layering on birds is pretty clever, the masterful use of color takes this to a pretty special place.
You can buy this via Artsy here.
Anna’s Instagram
Anna’s website
“Scissors and Screws”
Nattee Sujithara
Charcoal on Paper, 14 x 20 inches
USD$290
A still life is a product of looking very deeply, it’s a form that lends itself to virtuosity. Such as Exhibit ‘A’ here. Just wow.
You can buy this work through Saatchi Art here.
Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find an Instagram account or website for Nattee. If anyone has some contact information, please let me know.
“Calla Lilles In December”
Joel Gregory
Archival Giclée print on fine art paper, 11.7" x 16.5"
GBP£100
I do love works that suggest a narrative. It’s as if this were a single frame in a film. I think that over time clues to what that narrative might be will reveal themselves. The delicate detail of the flowers themselves are beautiful.
You can buy this work through the Delphian Gallery here.
Joel’s Instagram (oh, you should check it out)
Joel’s website
“Still Life On Green”
Marie Curran
Pencil on Paper, 11.4 x 7.5 inches
USD$580
I really love that the green surface the egg and bowl are resting on is implied by the reflected color rather than show. Elegant!
You can buy this work through Saatchi Art here.
Marie’s Instagram
Marie’s website
“Cheetos Bowl”
Karen Lederer
Archival pigment print, 21 x 24 inches
Edition of 10
USD$300
Still life can be stodgy. Which just means that artists will continually try and subvert the form in one way or another. Yes, this is a pretty cheeky take, but it’s also tour de force of color and composition.
You can buy this print via Artspace here.
Karen’s Instagram
Karen’s website
“Silver Cup”
Jessica Artman
Oil on Panel, 9 x 12 inches
USD$650
Da-yum! This is as classic as it gets, but definitely not fusty. Beautiful.
You can buy this work via Sugarlift Gallery here. Sugarlift reliably has top-notch work that isn’t super spendy. They’re worth a follow or occasional browse if you’re looking.
Jessica’s Instagram
Jessica’s website
“Get Well Soon”
Neena Buxani
Acrylic on Board, 18 x 24 x 2 inches
USD$500
We can’t really get away with a Y.S.O.A. edition devoted to still life without a vase of flowers or two. I chose this because it’s a really fresh take on a very old motif. It’s joyful and alive.
You can buy this painting via Showfields here.
Neena’s Instagram
Neena’s website
“Catafalque Still Life”
Jason Stout
Oil on Canvas, 10.00 x 10.00 in
USD$810
I just love this. The super vibrant colors, the distortion of perspective and proportion, and the full setting are so compelling. I could look at this for the rest of my life.
Incidentally, a catafalque is “a decorated wooden framework supporting the coffin of a distinguished person during a funeral or while lying in state”. So, there’s backstory.
You can buy this painting via Artspace here.
Jason’s Instagram
Jason’s website
Ok! That’s that for this edition of You Should Own Art. I hope you enjoyed it and met some artists and artworks that send you down the twisty tendrils of the art Internet.
One last thing, we’re thirteen editions deep now. This would be a great time to share any feedback you’ve been sitting on over the past months. I’m interested in what’s working, what’s not, and what you’d like to see more of. I’ll send out a more formal survey someday, but in the meantime, please leave a comment here.
I paint wildlife in interesting poses...would you be interested in reviewing? Nancy (Richmond VA)