Foundations of Still-Life: Composition Setup and Brainstorming Techniques

[New Masters Academy]

In this lesson, instructor Cornelia Hernes will teach you the fundamentals of still life composition. Cornelia will walk you through the brainstorming and still life set-up process she undertakes. You will learn how to create a hierarchy within the different objects, giving each element its own unique significance and contributing to the overall composition. She will play with arrangements of objects and lighting to develop a composition to work from, setting the stage for the detailed lessons to come.

This lesson belongs to the course, Introduction to Still-life Painting II. In this 15-week course, immerse yourself in the intricate world of still-life painting with a focus on observational techniques and composition. Guided by the expert hand of Cornelia Hernes, you’ll delve deep into the art of capturing still-life in its most vivid form. Starting with the basics of composition setup and brainstorming, Cornelia will introduce you to the nuances of color theory, the importance of lighting, and the role of texture in bringing objects to life. You’ll explore the significance of each element in a composition, learning to give each its due importance. The course will also cover advanced techniques like imprimatura, sight-size drawing methods, and the art of capturing transparency in objects like glass bottles. Cornelia’s hands-on approach ensures that by the end of the course, you’ll not only have a deep understanding of still-life painting but also the skills to create pieces that resonate with realism and depth.

Throughout this course, you’ll have access to the NMA community for feedback and critiques to improve your work as you progress.

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