Currently I like to paint from observation (of course, that might change). It's not that I have an issue about working with photographs - I have done so in the past. I like painting the figure and people, but there are the logistics of who, when and where, and yes there is a cost which I don't begrudge at all.
So let me list the practical reasons why I choose to paint still life.
The objects don't move unless I move them which happens all the time.
I can control the light, warm, cool, from the side, from above.
The different viewpoints available can often provide a unique perspective to everyday objects.
I have the setup available to me whenever I want to work on a piece.
As I delve deeper into painting still life, I plan to play with ways to abstract the objects to take the work beyond painting just the surface. There are many artists who have and are working in this way. The recent language for this approach to painting is Disrupted Realism. I like the title of the exhibition Beyond Depiction (August/September 2022 at MutualArt in New York City) that exhibited work from observation/realism in unique ways.
Below is a list of just a few such people. I have studied with some of them:
Comentários