This is a series of images showing some of the time spent on my courses or in demos to Art groups /Societies looking at still life. As well as affording opportunities to practise observation, choice of technique and so on, still life naturally promotes thinking about composition and viewing aspect to optimise information for the artist; both of which are difficult to arrive at democratically if you have asked several people to set up one arrangement which is good for all of them. What fun.Some topics discussed include; (Bottom right): Edge types - lost/found - describe form (pear & cherries). Influence of light direction on shadow pattern. Surface idiosyncracies and o/all form dealt with in one operation (jug). (Middle bottom): Use white paper to describe surface characteristics and provide clarity/definition. Pattern and tone of cloth describe its topography. (Bottom left): Use a dark backdrop where the last perimeter piece of info' about an object is a highlight. Role of reflections, colour choices, careful observation & recording of clues, and depths of tones, in describing form (pouring jug). (Centre top): Don't be too specific (this might look so but compared with the student painting I was advising on, it wasn't). (Two paintings in one, oranges & apples top left & right): Spotting colour notes in a subject, negative painting,isolating (or not) paint marks (the brushes) for character & continuity, controlling edges (the jug), and seeing colour temperature.