At Atelier School of Art in Royal Oak, Michigan, every new student begins their painting journey with a timeless exercise: painting a bowl of fruit and a glass of milk.
At first, this may sound simple—but it’s part of a rich classical academic tradition that has trained artists for centuries. By beginning with this still life, students learn the essentials of observation, light, form, and color. These skills form the foundation for any style of painting, whether you dream of creating portraits, landscapes, or abstract works.
Rooted in the Classical Academic Tradition
This method comes directly from the atelier system of training, where students historically began with basic still lifes before progressing to more complex subjects.
Why fruit and a glass of milk? Because these objects offer powerful lessons:
- Shape & Proportion – Fruit teaches roundness and symmetry, while glass challenges the artist to capture transparency and reflection.
- Light & Shadow – Understanding how light curves around objects gives paintings depth and realism.
- Color Relationships – From the warm tones of fruit to the cool highlights in glass, students practice harmony and contrast.
- Brushwork & Patience – Layer by layer, they learn that detail and refinement come with time.
Student Spotlight: Learning Through the Still Life
One of the most rewarding parts of our teaching method is seeing students grow before our eyes. Here are two real examples from our Royal Oak studio:
🎨 A Student in Progress
Here is one of our students, who recently started their first still life at Atelier School of Art. At the beginning, they admitted they were nervous about capturing something as simple—but as challenging—as a glass of milk. With guidance from our instructors, they began blocking in the shapes and values. Week by week, their painting grew more refined as they learned how to balance highlights, shadows, and color harmony. Watching the piece come to life gave them a deeper appreciation for the classical process. This process has also boosted her confidence greatly.
🎨 A Completed Still Life
Now compare this to the finished product by another of our students. You can see the way they’ve captured not only the realism of the fruit but also the subtle reflection in the glass.
This painting is more than just a practice piece—it’s a milestone. For this student, completing the still life meant they had gained the foundation to move on to portraits, landscapes, and their own personal creative projects with confidence.
Why Students in Royal Oak Love This Approach
Students from Royal Oak, Birmingham, Ferndale, Troy, and across Metro Detroit appreciate how this method gives structure to the learning process.
Instead of being overwhelmed by a blank canvas, they begin with a clear, step-by-step project. This keeps beginners motivated while also giving returning artists a chance to refine their fundamentals.
The result? Every student walks away not only with a beautiful still life painting, but with the technical knowledge to paint anything they can imagine.
Begin Your Journey with Us
Atelier School of Art in Royal Oak, MI, we believe that every artist deserves a strong foundation. Starting with a bowl of fruit and a glass of milk connects you to the classical academic tradition, while preparing you for a lifetime of creative expression.
👉 Ready to begin your artistic journey? Enroll today at Atelier School of Art and discover why the greatest painters in history—and our students in Royal Oak—start with the still life.