A still life oil painting series where love, animals, and nature meet.
At first glance, these paintings may seem like simple still lifes. Look a little longer, and the objects begin to tell a deeper story. A handmade piece, an animal figure, a flower, or a small keepsake can become more than an object. It can symbolize special connection or carry a cherished memory.
This series is a little different from my usual animal portraits and nature-inspired artwork. In these still lifes, my love of animals and nature shows up through the playful objects I chose.
The paintings were created as part of a Milan Art Institute Mastery Program assignment to make three cohesive still lifes using a limited set of paint colors. That structure gave the series its starting point, but the meaning grew from the objects themselves.
Together, these paintings grew into a small collection about how love can live inside ordinary things.
Love Tokens
A cheerful ceramic frog sits beside one of my handmade nature assemblages. The frog jar invites little treasures to be tucked inside, the kind that hold a meaningful place in your heart. The leafy vine, pinecone, and earthy sculpture brings the natural world into the piece.
The Blue Bunny
A hand-sewn bunny, made from a loved one’s blue jeans, rests beside a green glass bottle and a single flower. The arrangement brings together tenderness, soft reflection, and the bright beauty of nature.
Wisdom and Grace
An owl vase, wooden giraffe, and swan come together in this symbolic still life. The owl suggests wisdom, while the giraffe and swan add warmth and grace. Soft catkin branches rise from the vase, bringing a sense of renewal from the natural world.
Creating this series gave me a new appreciation for still life painting. Instead of choosing only realistic objects, I was drawn to playful pieces that could stand in for the themes I love most. Animal figures, handmade objects, and small pieces of nature gave the series a whimsical way to honor the animals and natural world that continue to inspire my art.
Jackie Foster Art 