Bella Wattles’ still life paintings offer a contemporary and narrative-driven take on classical subjects, celebrating the beauty of thoughtfully curated objects. Her work is rich with bold colors, varied textures, and dynamic lighting, transforming everyday items into captivating scenes that brim with personality and story. Her compositions often feature unexpected elements like disco balls, jewellery and playful textiles, adding a sense of movement and curiosity.
Inspired by the traditions of Renaissance and Dutch still life painting, the artist reinterprets the genre with a modern sensibility, blending vibrant colors. Still life, for her, is more than an arrangement of objects—it is a stage where each element plays a role in an unfolding narrative. A stack of books becomes the foundation of a story, a partially peeled clementine suggests a fleeting moment, and a trailing leaf from a prayer plant adds quiet movement. Each composition invites multiple interpretations, making the experience personal for every viewer.
Color is at the heart of her artistic language, setting the emotional tone of each scene. Though she starts with a reference image, the final painting often features intensified hues and heightened contrasts, creating a dreamlike and dramatic atmosphere. Her deliberate selection of patterned fabrics, draped textiles, and reflective surfaces enhances the richness of her work, balancing soft natural elements with striking geometric designs. Every painting is an invitation to look closer, to find the connections between objects, and to imagine the stories they tell. Whether it’s a vase of vivid pink tulips, an open book revealing a famous artwork, or a cluster of clementines resting on a richly patterned cloth, her work encourages curiosity, reflection, and joy.
Through a seamless blend of tradition and playfulness, precision and spontaneity, Bella Wattles breathes new life into the still life genre. Her paintings are both timeless and deeply personal, offering a fresh perspective on familiar objects and inviting viewers to see the world with a renewed sense of wonder.
