Vanitas Painting

VANITAS PAINTING

Description:

Vanitas painting completed in the traditional 17th century Dutch style. A vanitas painting contains collections of objects symbolic of the inevitability of death and the transience and vanity of earthly achievements and pleasures; it exhorts the viewer to consider mortality.

To do:

⬜︎ collect Vanitas painting examples
⬜︎  make decision on hourglass purchase
⬜︎ buy hourglass
⬜︎ refinish hourglass
⬜︎  prepare panels
⬜︎  construct shadow box
⬜︎  collect items
⬜︎ paint legs
⬜︎ paint background black

Questions:

⬜︎ Should hourglass be gold-leafed or painted black with gold detail?

• Make decision on hourglass purchase

No matter which hourglass is chosen, I'm quite sure that I'll alter it in some way, whether it be a faux-finishing, aging, or gold-leafing.

Example #1
9.5" x 6"
$39.90 on Amazon

Example #2
8.66" x 6"
$42

Example #3
9" x 5"
$46 at Walmart

Example #4
13" x 7"
$40 on Amazon

Example #5
8.25" T
$21.54 on Greenhomefair

Example #6
10" x 5"
$27 on Amazon

Example #7
$20 on Amazon
8" x 4"
If I choose this one, I would add short decorative walls to the top and bottom. Additionally, I would faux finish it to look like dark wood.

Example #7 (rough sketch)
A quick Photoshopped sketch of what it might look like.

• Collect vanitas painting examples

• Complete sketches and paint studies - 07/12/18

I can't believe I haven't painted a Vanitas before! Every artist should create one at least once in their career, whether it be painting, photography, sculpture, etc.

My artist friend Sarah loved the idea, so I visited her amazing art studio and we both created a few watercolor paintings as a study. I really enjoyed myself and could not believe the way the time flew.

• Complete sketches and paint studies - 09/01/18

Tonight I met with an artist friend Loretta to spend some creative time together. I've mentioned in the past that I want to do a Vanitas painting, so using watercolors, I created a study of a baby's skull. I will definitely use it as one of my props when it comes to completing the oil version.