Still Life, Made and Natural Forms

This was the most enjoyable exercise so far, although I still found it very challenging. The first part using man made objects gave me some problems, as initially I couldn't decide on a group of themed objects which would make a composition I was happy with. I tried some very basic studies with packets and boxes from the kitchen cupboard but wasn't happy with them, so tried something a bit more interesting using ceramic objects.


I finally disregarded the garlic pot and settled on 3 small jugs, one rustic and highly glazed (like slip wear) a delicate porcelain, and a Mason Cash measuring jug.


These provided a range of surfaces and allowed more interesting use of light and reflection, and although the shapes were similar they were quite distinct. I liked the shape made between the lips of the two larger jugs, which I found exciting, and it gave a formality to the composition, contrasting with the smaller jug, carelessly lying on it's side. I think the composition is fairly solid, but I wished after I hadn't drawn it in my sketchbook, as it would have been better larger! I realised after although I didn't make sketches of all the positions I tried, I spent a long time looking at the subjects and thought a lot about how I would best place them. I used pencil as a thought it would suit the subject matter best.

The still life with natural objects I thought I'd find a lot easier but, again, choosing the objects was hard, I began with a dried poppy head, stone and clove of garlic, but they did not "work" so I revised how I was doing the exercise.


My sketches were too detailed so I kept the garlic, plus a field mushroom and a pepper and did a series of very quick sketches in different placements to show the tonal values and light. I then chose A2 paper! and pencil, because I wanted to see how I would manage using it on such a huge (for me) paper!


I chose the final composition as I wanted to show the intricacy of the gills and how the light reflected on them giving small shadows, even in the direct light from the window. I liked the texture of the mushroom, which was a little bruised and battered, against the smooth, sinuous, almost perfect form of the pepper, and the papery, crisp skin of the garlic clove.

I enjoyed drawing the natural objects more, but made was much more fun than I had expected, because of the lessons I've already learnt. Changing the composition and considering shape, form, structure, tonal values, light and reflections helped a great deal in expressing the form of both types of objects. I do prefer the natural world, and personally, find it easier to express this three dimensionally. I have previously veered away from the made, but it is now becoming a more interesting and attractive option because of the lessons I am learning. I think I will always be drawn to natural objects though!

Tone and Form

Looking around the unlit room was like squinting when you have sunglasses on! The objects in the room without light were dim shapes, almost blocks, of dull tones, with deeper shadow. As my eyes became more accustomed to the gloom, I could make out areas of reflected light around them. The white painted door and the mirror still reflected light from the glass and gloss pain surface. Smaller objects were difficult to make out clearly
Colour was absent from the room, there was only varying shades of grey.

The same room, well lit, was bright and colourful with a strong source of primary light, reflective light and shadows everywhere. Colours were clearly seen in every tone and hue.

My first drawing looking at shadow pattern and light formations didn't work well, because I used an item that was too complicated and then couldn't simplify it! So I tried again with an apple and a mushroom, and this worked much better. It was surprising to see where the patterns actually fell with two non reflective items. I also changed to a slightly softer pencil which helped with the tonal values.
















I then used fruit and vegetables to demonstrate tonal values and shadows using cross hatching. I understood how tonal patterns give the objects its form and primary sources of light but hadn't really considered the effects and patterns caused by secondary, reflected light before, and it has made me see things differently. It is interesting how the first few exercises have already altered my view of things, and made me start thinking about seeing the world in a different way.