The following is an extract from Inspired by Nature: Creating a Personal & Natural Interior, the new bookย by the renowned stylist Hans Blomquist.
The next time you are going to take a photograph for Instagram, or just for yourself, zoom outย a little and look at the bigger picture of a part of your home. You will soon see that you haveย many larger vignettes that, without you realising it, have become everyday still lifes. It is easy toย think of still lifes as just being collections of small items on a table or another surface, but theyย can also be on a larger scale and include pieces of furniture. Visiting the houses featured in thisย book, as well as some of the locations I have styled for photoshoots for work, I have often beenย amazed by how many large-scale vignettes people have in their homes.
Collections on display
I photographed a home in Portland,ย Oregon, for this book, and theย whole interior consisted of suchย pleasing and carefully consideredย large-scale still lifes that I had toย photograph them all.
I love everything aboutย this vignetteโthe collections of old alarm clocksย and vintage signs, the desk and theย wooden and metal stool, all sittingย so beautifully against the wood-panelledย wall, which had beenย freshened up with a new coatย of white paint but otherwise leftย in its original state.
Beauty all around
A place you use every day becomes a vignetteย when viewed through a camera. This desk area hasย unintentionally become a beautiful still life, almostย as well composed as a painting. A pair
of vintage leather and wooden chairs positionedย in front of an old wooden storage unit topped withย a collection of vintage items form an eye-catchingย arrangement.
Everything goes
When creating a still life, you can choose a handful of related objects or random items that haveย nothing in common, you can stick to a colour palette or use similar materials. There is no right orย wrong.
Above is an example of unrelated items brought together to create a still life on a bedroomย dresser/hutch. Opposite, on a simple wall shelf, a collection of small green glass bottles sits veryย well with vintage paintbrushes and books, creating a display that is uncomplicated but eye-catching.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hans Blomquist is an art director and stylist who is highly sought after by many prestigious brands. Hans started out working for IKEA in Sweden and ended up art directing their catalogue. His clients include Harrods, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, H&M and IKEA. Hans lives in Paris and is also the author of The Natural Home.
The images are the copyright of Ryland Peters & Small, taken from the book Inspired by Nature: Creating a Personal & Natural Interior. Stylist and photographer: Hans Blomquist. Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small.