Spring Still-Life
The Set Up
This was the very first activity I ever offered at Smudge — the first day of our first holiday program in September. I was nervous, excited, and it filled me with so much joy that it has stayed a favourite ever since. Still life is such a gorgeous way to slow down and really look. Collect a mix of flowers and plants, including indoor greenery if you have it. The more variety the better — tall stems, trailing leaves, bursts of colour, unusual shapes. Set them up in jars and vases at different heights, almost like creating a stage for the plants.
Use thick A3 card or watercolour paper. Offer oil pastels, watercolour palettes, liquid watercolours, pencils, and markers so there is plenty to choose from.
The Making
Begin with a playful warm-up: smaller pieces of paper, an oil pastel, and a challenge not to lift it off the page. Keep your eyes on the flower or leaf and let your hand keep moving. These continuous line drawings are loose, surprising, and often hilarious, and they free everyone up before the “big” piece begins.
On larger paper, sketch the outline in pencil or pastel. Talk about the 'table line' as it anchors the objects and can be placed high or low depending on the composition. Add colour with watercolours or pastels, layering patterns and textures into the background. Scatter petals or fruit across the table for extra detail. At Smudge we often chat about analogous colours (those close together on the colour wheel) or complementary ones (opposites) and how they shift the feeling of the piece. Also, it's great to remember that colours do not need to be realistic! A pink leaf or a blue flower can make the whole page sing. It's always better to use a colour palette that makes your own heart sing.
Variations
Spray liquid watercolours for a loose, unpredictable effect on the background. Focus on a single leaf or bloom and create a series of studies rather than one big piece.
Materials
A variety of fresh flowers, indoor plants, and leaves
Vases and jars for arranging
A3 card or watercolour paper
Oil pastels, pencils, markers
Watercolour palettes and liquid watercolours
Paintbrushes, water jars, cloths
Smaller A5 paper for warm-ups