Easel Still Life Painting Georgia O’Keeffe Flowers

Yasmeen Kamrani Sallam
Apr 16
2 min read

The famous artist Georgia O'Keeffe is one of America's most famous painters. Her clear, bright paintings show the beauty she found in the simple, natural things around her. Exposing children to the arts & different artists at a young age exposes them to various styles & techniques of art.

Today we became Georgia O'keeffe & did our very own still life paintings on our outdoor easels. We set out examples of her various Calla Lily & Iris Paintings, real Calla Lilies + Irises, Colorations Paint, Construction Paper, & Paint Brushes from @discountschoolsupply. The children were invited to observe, create, & paint just like Georgia.

A still life is a drawing or a painting of an object or a group of objects that is close to you & doesn't move. This was a wonderful way for the children to observe every detail in the flowers & images, compare similarities/differences, & become more aware of details. Painting on vertical surfaces, such as an easel will help a child develop the tools they will need later on when learning how to write or draw. When a child paints vertically, they are naturally encouraged to hold the brush in a more efficient & ergonomically appropriate manner. Standing @ an easel is great for upper arm & shoulder strength, which in turn provides the wrist with more stable support. By practicing these movements, children will develop a dynamic tripod grip. This grip allows for precise finger movements, which will provide the child with more control & less fatigue/frustration during writing/drawing when they are ready to do so.

Painting on an easel has a fluidity that is different from other art media. The vertical surfaces help children develop the appropriate amount of writing pressure. When painting on a vertical surface, children must apply more pressure than they would on a horizontal surface, which helps them better calibrate their grip strength & the pressure they need to apply when writing on paper. Overall, vertical surfaces like this provide a natural setting for children to improve their pencil grip, which will contribute significantly to their handwriting skills. Shoulder stability is crucial in their gross motor development as it provides a solid base for the coordinated movements of the arm, forearm, & hand. When it comes to writing or any activity requiring fine motor skills, shoulder stability plays an essential role. When a child paints on an easel, their arm works against gravity. This naturally strengthens the muscles around the shoulder, promoting stability. Over time, these repeated movements & exposure, can contribute to enhanced shoulder stability.