Greetings from The Studio! 

Today marks the beginning of the third month of hosting workshops at The Studio at Fort Andross.  It has been a pleasure seeing the great work that has been created and shared in our space.  I’ve enjoyed designing the still life displays and have learned a few things about what makes painting still life so enriching.

The word Vanitas is used a lot when describing still life painting.  Vanitas paintings are symbolic objects that remind the viewer of the fleeting nature of life.  However, the ideal I’ve taken away from our still life workshops is how fleeting time is,  and the importance of being present while staying focused in the moment. When you sit down to paint a still life, you are challenging yourself to concentrate on a difficult task.  But as you get into the process, you begin to focus on the small details, the drawing of proportions, laying down of value and mixing of color.  You have simplified a complicated task down to its tiny steps, and it becomes easier to manage.

That is why still life painting is such a great teaching tool. It’s a metaphor for life! 

And you have a beautiful painting to remind you, and all that look upon it,  how important it is to stay present in this crazy world!

-P. Colby Myer

July 30th, 2025