<P><B>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 matter</B></P><P>Still 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.