Using the medium of oil paint as a step-by-step process, from painting simple compositions of one object to complex arrangements of more unusual subject matterStill life painting is an exciting genre, which allows the artist to explore color, shape, and form, using as many or as few objects as they like. A still life can be quiet, tranquil, and contemplative, or a celebration of pure color and expression. Each chapter in this introductory guide focuses on a different aspect of preparing for a painting: from studying a still life using a variety of drawing techniques to basic color theory and from painting with a limited tonal range to using the full impressionist palette. It also includes advice on materials, including how to stretch one"s own canvas; discusses the work of notable still life painters, and introduces painting still life within the genre of portraiture.