Modern Still Life: From Fruit Bowls to Disco Balls

CHAPTER ONE

Supplies. . . & the Mindset of an Artist, for Beginners

IN DECIDING WHAT TOOLS to use as a painter, the most important factor is using what works best for you. I strive to maintain a neutral stance on tools and assets that might aid artists. Often, in the realm of art education, well-meaning instructors may inadvertently establish false hierarchies or complicate the morality of using tools designed to enhance representational painting.

This includes practices such as painting from photographs, utilizing grids, or employing apps to match colors. Here’s the crux of the matter for every artist: tools, in themselves, are neutral. ...