Still Lifes – An Age Old Artform
Still Lifes have been created by the most famous artists. The likes of painters, sculptures, photographers, & printmakers such as Manet, Giotto, O’Keefe, DaVinci, Michaelangelo, Caravaggio, and Raphael. Still Lifes continue to be among an artist’s favorite subjects. Not to mention, a great pass time when it’s 20 below zero outside.
Touched by an Angel
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song” Maya Angelou
| I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
The free bird leaps But a bird that stalks The caged bird sings Maya Angelou |
Photography Tip: Although, these were commissioned works, this could have easily been a self assignment. Self assignments are an excellent method to not only build one’s portfolio and exercise creativity, but also to tap into that other place of stillness where you’re free to be present with yourself and experience the now. This is a practice that is ordinary for artists. Check out the Artist’s Way for more about this and more artists exercises.