Wyeth
Interesting that Michael should cite Andrew Wyeth as someone who could do any of the general painting categories that Karin noted. Noone is a bigger fan of Andrew Wyeth than I and I must say that I cannot recall a still life by the artist. A narrative accompanies so many of his works and it is magic that he can do paintings that suggest that someone has come or gone from the scene and you are left with wonder about who, why, or where they have gone. The closest to still life that I can find are paintings of the tools, clothing, or general evironment of the people he knew and became part of his artistic output.
I live within an hour's drive of Chadds Ford and the Brandywine Museum and have had wonderful moments going through this Gallery devoted to the Brandywine School. To have the chance to see his working drawings and studies is very exciting and revealing. He did many and usually they were scattered on the floor of his studio, stepped upon, and later saved by his wife Betsy. In many cases they are more exciting than the finished paintings.
I think Karen's post poses a bigger question than being able to make an acceptable painting in any subject so much as whether or not we, the artist, find the same drive and need to paint in one of these styles. I can paint a house but find it hard to do that with the care and enthusiasm that I tackle a portrait.
I would bet that Andy (I always call him that) would say "I can't do a good still life." It may be another another way of recognizing that the subjects we choose to portray are not arbitrary.
This is a very interesting topic that I have never given much thought to previously.
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