The Anatomy of “Vanitas Still Life with Coyote Skull and Dutch Bantam”
Vanitas /ˈvanəˌtäs/ : a still-life painting style of a 17th-century Dutch genre containing symbols of death and change as a reminder of their inevitability. They show both beauty and decay and are designed to remind us of the transience of life.
These are step by step photos of Raven’s first painting in this style, October 2025 with about 50 hrs of painting time
The final painting of "Vanitas Painting with Coyote Skull and Dutch Bantam" is 24"x36", painted with M Graham oil paint on an Ampersand board and was completed in October of 2025
The still life set up in the studio; figuring out lighting and composition. Utilizing family heirlooms, fresh grown fruits and vegetables from the garden, and thrift store treasures
Composition in progress
Reference photo of our Dutch Bantam rooster "Rainbow"
The rooster digitally added to the composition using clip studio "CSP"
The underpainting plotting out the final composition
Artist at work
Painting in progress
Detail #1 of finished painting: coyote skull and gold goblet
Detail #2 of finished painting: Dutch bantam rooster
Detail #3 of finished painting: peppers on red fabric