Question

Choose one of the following still-life works. Write 1-2 paragraphs that describe the shapes you see when looking closely at the image, and the ways that light, shading, color, line, and detail build on the shapes to give dimension and texture to the image.

Jean-Siméon Chardin, Still Life with Peaches, a Silver Goblet, Grapes, and Walnuts
sorry it wont let me add the links and in the links were these two pictures
Paul Cézanne, Still Life with Fruit Dish

Frida Kahlo, Still Life Parrot

Answer 1

I have chosen to observe the artwork by Frida Kahlo "Still Life With Parrot". When you look closely at this piece of art you see that it has lots of shapes, shading, color, and contrast. The lighting was a little jumpy especially in the back two foods that look brown because somehow the food on the right is getting light even though it is behind the watermelon and it is also funky up in the front when you look closer because especially with the oranges they all are being hit at different spots with light. Despite the lighting the shading is incredible. She managed to blend the light to dark very cleanly and it makes the whole art have a bit of pop to it, almost like it is jumping out of the page. There are lots of shapes in this artwork including circles, ovals, arches, triangles, and even rectangles. Finally, contrast, which this piece has a surprisingly a lot of. There are lots of browns that are right up against some reds, greens, blues, and oranges. While this would not normally work she made this whole artwork look so natural between the blending of color, the natural lighting, the clean lines, and finally shapes that are all around us that all this contrast works very well together and in my opinion makes the whole painting better as a whole.

Answer 2

In the work Still Life Parrot the more sharp tip of the parrots wing, beak, and the edges of the watermelon slice contrast nicely with the rest of the shapes in the artwork, which are mostly round and spherical. This makes it more dynamic and interesting to look at. The shading on the fruits, especially on the inside of the orange, help it to appear more 3-dimensional and give it life. The red of the watermelon slice, and some of the other fruits are directly opposite on the color wheel of the green fruits in this still life painting.