Unit 1: Creating a Still Life

Here's How:

1. Choose your location: a good, directional light source is the key to a strong drawing or painting. A lamp or bright window is perfect.
2. If room lighting is diffuse, use a board or shadow box to to control the lighting that falls on your subject. You might need to be creative - blankets draped between chairs (on table!), umbrellas, appliance boxes... a little effort can make a big difference to the fall of light, and allows you to draw what you see instead of using guesswork to try and tweak the drawing.
3. Think about your background. Architectural features such as a window frame or door can add direction to a composition. A tone that contrasts with the subject is useful. Drapery can be a bit cliche, so use it carefully.
4. A woodgrain table can look great, but only if you're confident with handling the detail - shortcutting on textures can really weaken a drawing. A beginner might be better using a tablecloth - choose a plain one if you don't want any extra detail, or a broad check or stripe to add color and pattern.
5. Choose your objects: Beginners should avoid oddly shaped objects that might look 'wrong' even when you've got it 'right'. Machine-made objects demand an accurate rendering of form and perspective. However, a casual or distorted look can work, when handled with confidence. Check out the links below for some ideas!
6. Arrange the group. When arranging, consider compositional elements, avoiding bland central postitioning and symmetry. Avoid just piling fruit in a bowl - let it spill from a bag, or be half-eaten on a plate. Give flowers a history - tucked in a hat, strewn in the gutter, or by a headstone.
7. View your arrangement through a viewfinder - an empty slide frame (make one out of card) to assess the composition and consider its placement on the paper

Tips:

1. If using natural light, take photos to refer to once the light starts to change.

2. Transparent and reflective objects, such as bottles and metal objects, can be challenging but are an excellent exercise in detailed observation.
3. Fruit is a great start, as the natural shapes are a little more forgiving, and give you interesting textures to work with.
4. Take photographs if using perishables, especially flowers, or where your work may be disturbed.

   STEP 1: STARTING THE STILL LIFE DRAWING

   
   
   
   TECHNIQUE: Draw as light as possible!!!!!!!!!In any still life, you should start to draw the objects as if they are transparent wire frame forms with visible lines of construction. This technique helps you to be fully aware of the shape of each individual form and its position in relation to the other forms. It is important to sketch the objects lightly as this makes it easier to change any mistakes and erase any lines of construction.  Start by placing one focus item.  Look at where this object touches each of the surrounding objects and use it as a guide for placing  the next piece of the puzzle.  This will keep sizes accurate and precise.
   NOTE: This see-through drawing technique uses vertical and horizontal lines of construction to help you to draw convincing ellipses and to balance the symmetry of cylindrical forms.
   
   

   STEP 2: CREATING AN INTERESTING COMPOSITION

   
   
   
   TECHNIQUE: Draw as light as possible!!!!!!!!! When composing a still life, try to introduce the qualities that make an interesting arrangement. You need to be aware of the abstract structure of your arrangement: its rhythms and contrasts of line, shape, tone, color, pattern, texture and form.
   NOTE: A transparent wire frame approach to sketching the still life helps you to organize the composition of the group. It makes it easier to see the shape, position and proportions of each object in relation to its neighbours.
   
   

   STEP 3: ERASING THE LINES OF CONSTRUCTION

   
   
   
   TECHNIQUE: Once you are happy with the shape, proportion and composition of the still life, you can erase the lines of transparent construction. This will leave you with an accurate visible outline of each form and the confidence that all the objects are positioned correctly. You are now ready to work on the details of each object.  However, before you begin, all lines should be erased so that you can barely see them at all.  From a distance the paper should look clean of all lines!!
   
   

   STEP 4: ADDING THE DETAILS IN LINE

   
   
   
   TECHNIQUE: Now lightly sketch in the shapes of any shadows or reflections onto each object. IN COLORED PENCIL ( a light cream color or color of the object you are drawing) Press as light as possible!
   NOTE: The more care you take over the accuracy of these marks, the easier you will find the next stage of the drawing - the Application of Color and Tone.