Elevating the Mundane: Finding Inspiration in the Humble Still Life in Pastel
The still life has long been a revered subject in the art world, elevating the most ordinary of objects into visually captivating compositions. We learned this the hard way… Within this seemingly humble genre, the pastel medium offers a unique approach to interpreting and expressing the beauty of the inanimate. By embracing the inherent properties of pastel—its bold, expressive qualities and textural richness—artists can transform the commonplace into the extraordinary, imbuing even the most mundane objects with a sense of vibrancy and life.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive…
Pastel as a Powerful Medium
Pastel, with its pure pigment and direct application, lends itself particularly well to the interpretation of still life subjects. The immediacy of the medium allows artists to rapidly capture the essence of a scene, building up layers of color and texture to convey both the physical and emotional qualities of the objects.
Expressive Brushwork: One of the hallmarks of pastel painting is the ability to create expressive, gestural marks. Artists can use the pastel stick itself to lay down bold, sweeping strokes, or employ the edge of the pastel to achieve more delicate, textural effects. This spontaneous, almost performative approach to mark-making can infuse a still life with a sense of energy and dynamism, breathing life into the inanimate.
Vibrant Hues: The pure pigment in pastels allows for an unparalleled intensity of color. Pastel painters can exploit this quality to create vibrant, saturated palettes that amplify the visual impact of their subject matter. By juxtaposing complementary hues or exploring nuanced color relationships, artists can imbue a still life with a sense of vibrancy and emotional resonance.
Textural Richness: The unique surface quality of pastel paintings, with their velvety, matte finish, can lend a tactile, almost tangible quality to the objects depicted. Artists can build up layers of pastel to create a sense of depth and materiality, inviting the viewer to engage with the work on a sensory level.
Finding Inspiration in the Mundane
While traditional still life paintings often featured elaborately arranged compositions of luxurious objects, the modern pastel artist can find inspiration in the most humble of subjects. By shifting our gaze to the overlooked and the ordinary, we can uncover the inherent beauty and poetry within the mundane.
As artist Sara Hotts eloquently states, “When we choose to celebrate now, we show gratitude, and our gratefulness gives us joy—but even better than that—our delight gives joy to the one who provided the opportunity.” This sentiment resonates deeply with the still life painter, who seeks to elevate the everyday through the transformative power of art.
Observing the Ordinary: The pastel artist’s journey often begins with a keen eye for observation, an ability to see the extraordinary within the seemingly ordinary. Whether it’s the play of light on a simple glass vase, the vibrant hues of a cluster of pears, or the intricate patterns of a weathered wooden surface, the pastel artist finds inspiration in the most humble of subjects.
Cultivating a Creative Mindset: Developing a creative mindset is essential for the pastel still life painter. This involves approaching each subject with a sense of wonder and curiosity, actively seeking out the visual poetry in the mundane. It also requires a willingness to experiment, to try new techniques and compositions, and to embrace the unpredictable nature of the medium.
Exploring the Symbolic: Beyond the purely aesthetic appeal of the still life, pastel artists can also delve into the symbolic and metaphorical dimensions of their subject matter. By carefully selecting and arranging objects, they can imbue their compositions with deeper meaning, exploring themes of mortality, abundance, or the transience of life.
Practical Pastel Techniques for Still Life Painting
Mastering the technical aspects of pastel painting is crucial for the aspiring still life artist. From foundational drawing skills to innovative application methods, the pastel medium offers a wealth of possibilities for capturing the essence of the humble subject.
Pencil Sketching: Before diving into the pastel painting process, many artists find it beneficial to begin with a pencil sketch. This allows for the exploration of compositional elements, the refinement of proportions, and the establishment of a strong foundation upon which to build the final pastel work.
As one artist notes, “Imagination crosses the line. It sneaks into another realm and takes a good look around before coming back to reality.” The pencil sketch can serve as a bridge between the artist’s inner vision and the tangible execution of the pastel painting.
Layering and Blending: Pastel painting often involves a process of building up successive layers of color and texture. Artists can start with a broad application of base tones, then gradually refine and enhance the composition through strategic layering and blending. This approach allows for the creation of depth, luminosity, and a sense of atmospheric perspective within the still life.
Expressive Brushwork: As mentioned earlier, the direct application of pastel can result in bold, gestural marks that can elevate the still life subject. Experimentation with different techniques, such as using the side of the pastel stick or employing a palette knife, can help artists achieve a range of expressive, textural effects.
Selective Detailing: While pastel painting often encourages a more spontaneous, gestural approach, the judicious use of detailed rendering can be a powerful tool for the still life artist. By focusing on specific areas of interest, such as the intricate patterns of a fabric or the reflective qualities of glass, the artist can draw the viewer’s eye and create a sense of visual hierarchy within the composition.
Exploiting Pastel’s Unique Properties: The unique properties of pastel, such as its ability to produce a matte, velvety finish or its capacity for layering and blending, can be harnessed to great effect in still life paintings. By embracing the inherent characteristics of the medium, artists can create works that are not merely representational, but imbued with a distinct artistic vision and emotional resonance.
Cultivating a Meaningful Creative Process
Ultimately, the success of a pastel still life painting lies not only in the technical mastery of the medium but also in the artist’s ability to infuse their work with a sense of meaning and emotional depth. By approaching the subject matter with a deeper understanding of the human experience, pastel artists can create compositions that resonate with the viewer on a profound level.
As art critic Jan Anders Nelson observes, “The content of all art is the experience of feeling and emotion.” It is this focus on the experiential, rather than the purely representational, that elevates the pastel still life painting into a powerful vehicle for self-expression and connection.
By embracing the inherent qualities of the pastel medium, observing the beauty in the mundane, and cultivating a meaningful creative process, the pastel artist can transform the humble still life into a work of profound artistic significance. In doing so, they not only celebrate the inherent poetry of the everyday but also invite the viewer to pause, to reflect, and to engage with the world around them in a new and enriching way.
Example: Modern Abstract Painting Series 2024