Still Life Painting – Fruits

Learning to See, Feel, and Paint What’s in Front of You

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will explore the basics of still life painting using fruits as their subject. Still life is a classic practice in art that helps build strong observation skills and teaches students how to translate what they see into paint. Through this process, students will also begin to discover their own unique way of interpreting the world around them.

Still life painting is not just about copying what you see—it’s about learning how to see. The more carefully you look, the more you’ll notice color, light, shadow, and form. Over time, your brush will become a tool not just for recording, but for expressing.

Learning Goals

By the end of this lesson, students will:

Learn to draw and paint directly from real-life objects
Understand how light affects the shape, color, and form of what we see
Strengthen their ability to observe small details
Practice techniques for creating realistic paintings

Color Theory Quick Talk

Before painting, we’ll briefly explore how color works.

What three colors can be mixed to make all the others?
Red, blue, yellow can be mixed to make all the other colors.
What do we get when we mix two primary colors?
Mixing two primary colors create secondary colors: orange, green, and purple.
Are black and white colors?
Technically, black and white are not considered colors. Black is the absence of light, while white is the presence of all light.
How can still life painting improve an artist’s observation skills?
By training the eye to notice details like light, shadow, color, and form.

Note on Black & White: Technically, black and white are not considered colors. Black is the absence of light, while white is the presence of all light. In painting, we use them as shades to deepen or lighten colors.

Materials Needed

Gouache paints
Pencil and eraser
Project sketchbook or painting paper
A variety of fruits (apples, bananas, oranges, etc.)
A selection of brushes (thick and thin)

Painting Process

We’ll begin by painting fruits one at a time to build confidence before moving on to a full still life.

Sketch Lightly
Pick a fruit and draw its basic shape gently with your pencil.
Flat Color Layer
Using a round brush, paint the fruit with its overall base color.
Add Shadows
Look closely—where is the light coming from? Add darker, cooler shades on the side facing away from the light.
Highlights & Details
Switch to a smaller brush and paint lighter areas where the light hits. Add texture and color variation.
Pause & Reflect
Step back and take a look. What’s working well? What could be improved? Make any final touches.
Try Another Fruit
Choose a different fruit and repeat the process. Notice how each one is different in shape, color, and surface.
Full Still Life
When ready, arrange a few fruits together and paint the full scene. Think about how the fruits interact—overlapping shapes, shadows, and space.

Still Life Painting Process

Terminology

Primary Colors – Red, blue, and yellow—colors that can’t be made by mixing others

Secondary Colors – Orange, green, and purple—made by mixing two primary colors

Highlights – The brightest spots where light hits an object

Shadows – Darker areas where light is blocked

Still Life – A group of objects arranged for observation and drawing or painting

Full Still Life Setup

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