Still Life Objects

Artists choose their still life objects with great care. The items they choose become the main focal point of the artwork, determining the overall subject matter of the piece. The objects in a still life painting carry the weight of meaning: either religious, allegorical, social, cultural, personal, moral, or spiritual.

Artists select their still life objects for a variety of reasons: they either want the symbolism of the object to make a point, or the objects may hold some form of personal interest and relevance to the artist's life. Sometimes artists choose objects simply because they are aesthetically pleasing.

The objects are sometimes compelling in their own right, but more often than not, the artist must make the objects interesting to look at either through careful and clever arrangement of the composition, or through an appealing painting style.

What are some of the still life objects that painters depict in their still life paintings?

Basically, still life paintings and drawings usually depict commonplace objects, whether natural or artificial. While anything inanimate can be valid subject matter for a still life, there are certain objects which have popped up over again and again in still life paintings throughout history. These objects typically carry special significance or hold a specific meaning. Such items include:

natural objects: food, flowers, other plants, feathers, rocks and stones, shells, skulls and bones
artificial objects: books, vases, glassware, jars, jewelry, coins/currency, tools, candy, toys

On this page, we'll take a look at some of the still life objects that show up in still life paintings time and again. I'll show you several examples of how different artists from different time periods included these objects in their paintings.

food

Cherries still life art by Thaneeya McArdle - Realistic alcohol marker art — Cherries still life art, by Thaneeya McArdle

Natural foods such as fruit, vegetables, and meat often show up in still life paintings, such as the vibrant cherries shown above, which I created in 2022 using alcohol markers on paper. (In my Ultimate Guide to Using Alcohol Markers, you can print out the line art for the cherries above, and learn to color them in step-by-step.)

Traditionally, when natural foods show up in an artwork, the symbolism of the food depends on whether the food is fresh and ripe or decaying. Food in a still life often points out our mortality and the ephemerality of earthly existence. When the food is fresh and ripe, it can signify abundance, riches, and the bounty of the upper class. Decaying food can serve as a reminder of our own mortality and the inevitability of change.

Still life with Peaches, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Processed or human-made food also shows up frequently in still life paintings and drawings, such as the pink cupcake below that I painted in 2007 with acrylics on wood panel. Processed food creates a more modern aesthetic in still life art. Its meaning can often be whimsical and fun, or alternatively, it can provide a critical commentary on contemporary society relating to consumerism and unhealthy habits.

Pink Cupcake still life painting by Thaneeya McArdle - Acrylics on Wood Panel — Pink Cupcake, by Thaneeya McArdle

flowers

Flowers have long been a favorite subject matter for still life painters. The meaning of flowers in a still life painting depends upon the type of flower. It's also important to take into account whether the flower is fresh or wilting. In general, flowers can symbolize innocence as well as impermanence - a reminder of the shortness of our existence and the fleeting nature of life's earthly pleasures. Flowers symbolize nature and the four seasons. Flowers in a still life can reflect an interest in science and the natural world. Flowers were depicted for aesthetic purposes and also at times they were used as religious symbols. Individual flowers had their own meaning, such as the rose for love, the lily for purity, and the sunflower for devotion.

other plants

Pattern of Leaves, 1924 — Pattern of Leaves, by Georgia O’Keefe

Aside from flowers, other plants may appear in still life paintings, such as ferns, leaves, cactus, bamboo, bonsai trees, etc. The meaning of the plants in a still life will partially depend on whether they are fresh or wilting. Plants in a still life painting can symbolize a scientific interest in botany and nature.

feathers

Turkey Feather with Horseshoe, by Georgia O’Keefe

Feathers appearing in a still life painting can symbolize a scientific interest in understanding nature and birds, acknowledging a connection to world around us. In religious paintings, feathers can symbolize virtues such as hope, faith and charity. Feathers can also represent freedom (because they enable flight), the sky, and the heavens.

shells

Shells in a still life painting can represent a number of things, depending on the context of the artwork. In a religious painting, scallop shells or clams symbolize the Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception, pilgrimages, or saints. On the flip side, shells in secular works can symbolize sensuality and the pleasures of the flesh. Shells can also signify a scientific interest in oceanography.

skulls & bones

When skulls or bones appear in still life paintings, they often have a moral purpose, with the aim of keeping humanity's morals in check. Skulls symbolize mortality and ephemerality. They are a reminder of the fleeting pleasures of life. Skulls in art also represent inner contemplation, eternity, and life beyond the earthly and visible.