Still Life Challenge June-August 2026

[Grapes]

I haven't seen many still life challenges on Internet so I decided to start one. I hope you find something to paint from the ref photos and post - even any rough sketches, works-in-progress or finished works of art. Also, remember to comment on other artist's works!

Participants are welcome to use any medium of their choice.
Any style is welcome.
Projects can be any size.
You can crop the photos and use your imagination.

The photos are mine so they are free to use.
If there's interest on painting still lifes I try to add more ref photos each month.

1. Grapes.
Photo taken in sunlight in Seville.

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2. Blue Vacations.
Photo taken in Isleta del Moro, Almeria, Spain.

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3. Pepper - Pimiento.
Photo taken in my kitchen in Seville.

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4. Strawberres.

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5. Clay Pots.
I was painting pleinair on this location and the pots caught my eye.

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[Grapes]

6. Plums.

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7. Fuente.
This is located in the patio of the Cathedral of Seville.

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8. San Eloy.
A bar in the center of Seville. This pub has many stories and is it's own spectacle when one steps in!

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9. Cast.
This statue stands in the Boboli gardens in Florence, Italy.

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10. Fans - Abanicos.
I photographed these fans in the main street called c./ Sierpes in the center of Seville. The photographer shows in the window mirror image.

That's all for now.

 

[Enyaw]

Nice shots Grapes. I will give one a go.

 

[Grapes]

Thanks, Wayne! Looking forward to your painting/drawing. There's plenty of time in this challenge: three months.

 

[PaintBoss]

What a great idea Grapes! Thank you for creating this challenge.
Still life definitely needs representation.
If there’s enough interest, maybe we’ll make it its own challenge category.
Wonderful photos! Seville has so much history.
Just wondering how long you want this challenge last for? You can give it any timeframe, or keep it open-ended for people to post whenever they want to try them.
I look forward to seeing what people come up with.

 

[Grapes]

Christine, thanks!
I'm thinking this challenge could last three months till the end of August and I'm often present as a host but it can stay open after that forever and people can still paint and post. I just might do that if I'm busy in the summer.
I thought to make this one for three months long (plus staying open after that) because of the summer vacations and because this is the first time for a still life challenge. Usually still life's are not the most popular subjects but I do love painting them.

I'd so much like to have another challenge in Sept but it all depends on participation. Anybody who's interested and have photos could run it. I might also find more references for another challenge. Later we can give it it's own challenge category depending on participation.

Let's just try this out first.

 

[Kristen2026]

Thought I'd try the grapes. I normally work on large drawings so this will be a challenge. Here's my first rough sketch.

 

[PaintBoss]

Good start Kristen!

 

[Grapes]

Kristen, looking really good. I like your drawing and l especially like the softness in your work.
Thank you for being the first to post!

 

[Donna T]

Nice start, Kristen. That’s a lot of round shapes to draw!

 

[Enyaw]

Kristen, love the different approach from myself as a painter and you as a drawer.

 

[Kristen2026]

Thanks for the votes of encouragement. I'm so used to doing 20" x 30" drawing I'm finding it more difficult to do a 8" x 10".

 

[Enyaw]

8 x 10 acrylic on paper .. took a few runs at this so it's not alla prima ..

 

[Grapes]

Wayne, love it! I'm surprised you picked this ref. and I'm fascinated to see this bc it's the one I also painted 4 yrs ago but it's now hanging on my FIL's living room in Seville.
I like the beautiful earth color tones you have in your painting. All colors match so well together. The basket is perfect giving support to the painting with it's texture and value. The plums are delicious and ready to pick out of your painting and eat. Very beautiful piece!

 

[Donna T]

I like how you didn’t copy the colors from the photo exactly, Wayne. You made it a muted, quieter version. I wish I could think outside the box like that! Beautiful work!

 

[Enyaw]

Thank you Grapes and Donna.
You can Donna. Block in with chromatic black and white and then choose your color scheme. The other little tricks we learn along the way. For example the green dissolving into purple is just atmospheric effects you see in landscapes. Don’t think subject but think what you want to convey. Distance, contrast, mellow and then use components to support the planes. The wall becomes sky and the table land while the still lift is your mountains and terrain standing before and behind them. So your still life is a still life but your landscape skills have painted it as if it were a landscape. Ps.. did not like the fluorescent green.

 

[PaintBoss]

I feel the solidness of that basket and fruit-very nice painting.

 

[Terri]

View attachment 55287
8 x 10 acrylic on paper .. took a few runs at this so it's not alla prima ..

Beautiful job! I love reading your description over how you achieved that purple.

 

[Enyaw]

Thank you Christine and Terri.

 

[Grapes]

.. and I almost didn't include this plum ref to the selection, l took it once away but in final group added. Mostly bc of that horrible bright green plastic bag I put there when photographing. What was l thinking! @Enyaw
The basket l got in Provence, France from a lady who has a large strawberry cultivation when she past by me painting the olive fields with my cat of course. She gave me this tiny basket full of strawberries. I decided to keep the basket for model purposes.