Project Overview:This is a long (8-12 h) observational drawing that will help to develop your previously acquired skills further. You will be working from life and draw three-dimensional forms with a full value scale. In addition you will need to select a part of the arrangement to draw and consider its placement in the frame to create an interesting composition.
You will capture an accurate value scale and describe the form and dimension of various surfaces. The challenge will be deciding how to arrange forms drawn from observation onto the surface in an engaging way.Objectives:Translate a monochromatic still life into a full-valued drawing
Create a strong composition
Highlight a multitude of surfaces and textures
Describe surfaces with graphite pencil – reflections, materials, folds, etc.
Utilize positive and negative shapes
Draw with both line and tone, apply cross contours to convey form and dimension
Utilize hard and soft edges to describe the objects and values as they appear in space
Create a complex composition based on observed forms.
Materials:drawing paper
sketch pad for thumbnails
graphite pencils
kneaded eraser
What to do – steps to follow:Find 3 monochromatic, ideally white objects of different sizes and forms to draw. Please avoid anything that has labels, they will be a distraction, but you can cover them with white paper. They don’t have to be big. If you have more experience or want to challenge yourself add a cloth to the background.(Some suggestions: garlic, egg, onions, green or yellow apples, shampoo bottles, toilet paper, small plush toys, cup, glass… IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DRAW, TALK TO ME)
Arrange the composition, use artificial light (any lamp will work) to create a dramatic shadow. Don’t move it until you are done with the drawing.
In your sketch pad create a series of 8-10 thumbnail drawings to be submitted with your final drawing. Circle the thumbnail drawing you select for your final composition.
Take a photograph of your composition, it must be submitted as well.
Use drawing paper. If you have masking tape you can mark the picture frame, or you can do the same by drawing a rectangular shape and keep a margin of 1″ from every side.
Begin laying out the proportions of the drawing with a VERY LIGHT graphite pencil line. Work very lightly so you can erase often until everything is in place. DO NOT outline. Keep if very light!
Start adding the value to the drawing. Make sure the value range includes very white whites and very dark blacks, as they appear in the arrangement.
Drawings MUST appear dimensional, and the form, space and specific surfaces of the construction (fabric, paper, bone, etc.) should be conveyed in the drawing
After you are done, take a good photo of your work.
Expect to work on this project 8-12h. Don’t do it in one sitting.Notes:Use hard and soft edges to describe both textures/surfaces and where they are located in space. Remember, if something is in front of another thing, the edge between them will be hard, particularly if there is a high contrast between the two.
Make sure the drawing describes the details of the still life: paper should feel delicate and thin, glass should feel delicate and reflective.
Nothing will be whiter than the brightest highlight, since the highlight is a reflection of the light source, and nothing can be brighter than the light source.
Part 2 : Doodle Journal
