My top 10 still life props and inspo (and where to get them)

People often ask me about how I come up with ideas for paintings. I go through phases with subject matter – landscapes, life drawing and portraits, but one of my favourites has always been still life.

I collect and curate my studio space with items that bring me inspiration. I enjoy arranging them in different interesting configurations and looking at the way they capture light and play with colour, before capturing it in watercolour, acrylic, mixed media and oils.

Here is a list of my favourite still life props and inspo at the moment - If you’ve been following my work for a while, this will probably look familiar!

1. Flowers, leaves and seed pods | Flowers on Argyle & my garden

I love keeping the studio bright and fresh with flowers on display most days - plus they also keep the space smelling gorgeous.

Sometimes, if the weather has been good and it’s the right time of year, I’m lucky enough for them to be picked straight from my own garden.

I also spend a lot of time at my local florist, Flowers on Argyle, picking up unusual and interesting stems. Native florals and beautiful poppies are some of my favourites from them.

Dried seeds and gum nuts are another welcome addition to many of my still life compositions, and I keep them in vases around the studio space because they have a long shelf life.

Red Poppies and Limes, oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm.

2. Hokusai print vases | Peters of Kensington

One of my most recent and special purchases, these fine ceramic vases are just beautiful. Katsushika Hokusai is probably one of the best known Japanese woodblock artists – you may recognise his famous work, The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.

These vases are designed by English ceramic makers, John Beswick and feature two of his other woodblock print designs, applied to ceramic, and cutout intricately. I picked these ones up from Peters of Kensington.

Magpie and Hokusai, oil on canvas, 53cm x 64cm

3. Jam and tea towels | home made or local shops

Two of my favourites that can be found in everyone’s kitchen cupboard – jam and tea towels.

I’m lucky enough to have a lovely neighbour who has made delicious jam in beautiful little jars for me to paint (and eat, eventually)! If you don’t know someone as handy in the kitchen, I’ve also bought interesting looking jars and tea towels from the local shops.

Poppies and Apple Jelly, blank greeting card, based on original oil on canvas. Available on my Etsy.

4. Vintage Penguin books | Dirty Janes Emporium

There’s something about the iconic orange spines on these books that people recognise instantly and I have really enjoyed encorporating them into some of my most recent works. I picked these ones up from Dirty Janes in Bowral, but I also keep an eye out at the local charity shops for interesting old books.

Poppies and Vintage Penguins, oil on canvas, 43cm x 53cm.

5. Cornishware jugs | Peters of Kensington

Statement vases and jugs have formed one of the quintessential elements of my artworks. I love the stripes and the vintage feel they bring to a composition. They’re just classic pieces.

Poppies and Lemons, blank greeting card, based on original oil on canvas, available on my Etsy.

6. Mason jars | kitchen supply store

Mason jars are another item that brings a wholesome, vintage and homely feel to my still life paintings. I have them in a few different colours and sizes and use them to capture the light. I bought these some years ago at a local preserve and kitchen supply store.

Studio Poppies, blank greeting card, based on original oil on canvas, available on my Etsy.

7. ‘Little people’ | @CeramicGlassLucie

These gorgeous hand made ‘little people’ come all the way from Cornwall in the UK. Their quirky little faces actually remind me of people I know! (But we won’t mention any names haha)

Poppies and Little People, oil on canvas.

8. Windswept woman | AmUsing Clay

I’ve collected a few sculptures from Ann-Maree Gentile. I love this one because she looks so interesting and fancy free, but mostly because she’s got a doggy with her!

9. Magpie | Patrice Cooke

We like having magpies in our garden and love listening to them singing. This is piece is from another local Southern Highlands creator, Patrice Cooke, and it has made an appearance in a few of my artworks.

Wildflowers and Magpie, blank greeting card, based on original oil on canvas, available on my Etsy.

10. Fruit and veg | local shops and markets

Mandarins and Daisies in a Blue Jar, oil on canvas, 32.5cm x 44cm.

I like the shapes, colour and texture of fruit and vegetables. Painting and drawing them is really satisfying and they’re usually pretty easy to purchase (unless you’re looking for something exotic or out of season). For new artists just getting into still life, I usually recommend they start with some simple fruit and veg to get into the swing of things.

Three Pears and a Ceramic Bowl, oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm