Still Life Drawings

These Still Life drawings consist of pencil on paper (backed with a mesh fabric for durability) with some drawings incorporating other media like paint or pastels.  All the drawings are shaped and hung with the legs a few inches from the floor.  In some instances I overlay an additional piece of paper which represents the square or rectangle of a table cloth.  A number of these drawings have somewhat of a macabre element to them.

 

"Twin 1"

Acrylic and Pencil on Paper

3.5' X 2.5'

 

 

This drawing along with the following drawing is an anthropomorphic look at still life.  The cup which sits on each table has the word “self” painted on its surface.  The overlaying painted surface is from a large drawing that I cut up and when reworked with pencil and paint. 

 

"Twin #2"

Acrylic and Pencil on Paper

3.5" X 2.5

 

 

This drawing along with the previous drawing is an anthropomorphic look at still life.  The cup which sits on each table has the word “self” painted on its surface.  The overlaying painted surface is from a large drawing that I cut up and when reworked with pencil and paint. 

 

"Fish Tale"

Acrylic and Gesso on paper

3.5' X 2'


 

This drawing is a play on with words, tail and tale.  This drawing is different from most of my drawings as I wanted to try painting on paper.  

 

"Reflection 2"

Pencil on Paper

3.5' X 2'

 

 

This still life is a look at "reflection" not only as in the surface of the table but also in life as the word written on the cup is "Life".  The skull represents the end of that life and end of reflection.

"My Boat"

Pencil on Paper

3.5' X 2'

 

 

This drawing is from a small boy’s perspective with images of toy boat (one is actually broken and damaged).  The note on the table is a small boys drawing including the words "My Boat" where the words are misspelled as he tried to erase the mistake only to smudge the paper.

 

 

"Deep Shadow"

Pencil on Paper

3.5' X 2'

 

 

This drawing entitled "Deep Shadow” refers to the shadowy life we all lead.  Once again I decided to put the word "life" on the coffee cup and an "8 ball" to illustrate the idea that we all get into difficult situations but always able to get out.  The roaches simply illustrate the ideal of unwanted elements or "pest" in our life.

 

"Anthropomorthic"

Pencil on Paper

3.5' X 2'

 

 

"Anthropomorphic" is the idea of giving human qualities to non-human elements.  I have chosen to use the typical still life element of the apple.  Included in the still life is a knife piercing the apple with blood seeping out.

 

"Reflections"

Pencil on Paper

3.5' X 2'

 

 

This is a companion piece to the drawing above called "Reflection 2".  It also presents a tabletop with a highly reflective surface.  The ideas of the pieces of fruit (again traditional still life elements) are all damaged either cut or bitten into.  The interesting piece for me is that the peach and pear have a piece bitten out of them which lay on the surface.  But, the idea of a bitten piece lying on the table means that once it is bitten it must be spit out onto the table.  The idea of a clean looking still life juxtapose to the idea of spitting out onto the table is what I am interested in.

 

"Circles"

Pencil on Paper

3.5' X 2'

 

 

This drawing was simply an exercise in the use of a single element like a circle and creating a still life that was circles on top of circles on top of circles.

 

"Still Life with White Dinner Plate

Gesso and Prussian Blue Pastel on Paper

3.5' X 2'

 

 

In this drawing I wanted to get away from the use of pencil on paper so decided to try pastels along with mat medium.  I wanted to incorporate the simple circular white plate element with the sharp table lines and the very decorative design of the table cloth.

 

"The Holy Trinity"

Pencil on Paper

3.5' X 2'

 

 

This drawing is called "The Holy Trinity".  It is simply the use of still life elements, 3 pears as the trinity.  Also, included in this drawing is a knife, a destructive element and once again a note with the title in a little boys hand writing.

About My Work

I have always been concerned about the way people viewed painting.   However, sculpture was the art form that drew my attention due to its three dimensional quality, enticing me into its own environment.  

 

I wanted to do the same thing with my paintings and drawings, bring the viewer into the art works environment.  That is the reason I allow the paintings to flow onto the floor space into the viewers space.  In the still life drawings I like to hang the tables with their legs almost touch the floor, after all table legs do touch the floor.


Framed paintings always created a distance between me and the work.  Someone said to me that looking at painting was like looking through a window into someone’s private life, a voyeur. 


The element of art which always drew my attention was the emotional and psychological content.  This became a way for me to express myself, often dealing with personal experiences.


“Anthropomorphic” is the best way to describe my work, giving human qualities to non-human objects. The painting “Self Portrait with Apple” is a good example.  It is a table with elements of me, paint brushes and tubes in container with my name on it as well as other objects. On the table legs are an actual pair of my old socks and shoes.    


Some of my art work is “in your face” works.  Such a work is “Milliner with Colostomy” which is a look at a real individual and a part of life people want to push aside.  Not all the art work is accepted.  Maybe it touches a cord that is difficult to experience.

Tom Schneider