Drawing a still life simply means, drawing inanimate objects (objects that don't move) that are typically composed indoors under controlled lighting. What is important in drawing a still life (as in all drawing skills) is observation and keeping in the front of your mind, the elements of art. Start by observing the objects you are about to draw and make some notes and sketches across your page about the "qualities" of each thing you will be drawing, including the surface they are sitting on, the backgrounds, and their cast shadows.
Shape: This is usually the first element to consider in your drawing as we start to identify the "basic shapes" that divide up the picture plane. It is obvious that you might start by identifying the shapes of the objects, like an apple or glass (the positive space), but, just as important, is the shape of the space that exists around your object (the negative space) and the shape of the areas of light and dark that exist within them (what is the shape of the cast shadows, highlights?)
Remember that as you break up your picture plane into the "basic shapes", you are not including details, only creating an "envelope" that each shape may exist within, so DRAW LIGHTLY, as you will be moving and refining these shapes as you go.
Assignment: Use a full page of your sketchbook to identify the basic shapes of all the objects in the still life.
Line: What is the quality of line of the object your are drawing? Where are the lines bold? Where are they delicate? Light? Dark? curved? angular? etc. Also, consider whether or not there is a line that exists around your object. One very common mistake in drawing for realism is flattening out your objects by drawing a visible line around them. Often there is only a value change and not a hard solid line.
Assignment: Sketch two objects from the still life that have contrasting line quality, indicate how you will draw them differently.
Texture: Consider the surface quality of your objects, and the varying textures that may exist within even one object. For example, say you are drawing an apple, how would the texture of the skin be different from the texture of the stem? How might you represent the spotty or bruised areas to show that they are different from the smooth, firm areas?
Assignment: Find two contrasting textures within the still life. Draw the object(s) and fill in an area to indicate how you will suggest the contrasting textures.
Value: This one is huge! Getting the values right in a still life will "nail" the illusion of depth. This requires referencing you value chart, squinting, varying the pressure on your pencil, the softness of your pencil, and how much paper white you allow to show through your marks as you lay down your "tone". Also consider the "gradation" of values, how quickly or slowly the values transition from light to dark.
Assignment: Locate an area of the still life that has a wide range of value and gradation. sketch that to match the values in the photograph.
Space: The element of space was referenced in "shape" for its positive and negative qualities. But there is another aspect of space that refers to the concept of "perspective". Consider in your Still Life Composition the viewpoint that you have of each object. Are they overlapping? Does an object appear larger only because it is closer to you? Consider the top edge of an object like a glass, if it is at or close to eye level, the ellipse will be really flattened out, but the further down below eye level, the rounder the top surface of the glass appears to be (stacked perspective). The shape of an apple is different from the top than from the side.
Assignment: Find two objects that have ellipses, one close to eye level and one below eye level. Sketch those two objects as they are placed in the still life. This can be a contour line drawing, you do not need to apply tone or value.
Lesson: Complete the assignments listed above, label each one by the name of that element. Write a sentence or two that explains how you have accomplished this next to each of your sketches.
You should have at least one sketch for each of the five categories, filling five pages of your sketchbook. Title this assignment "Elements Still Life"
Shape: This is usually the first element to consider in your drawing as we start to identify the "basic shapes" that divide up the picture plane. It is obvious that you might start by identifying the shapes of the objects, like an apple or glass (the positive space), but, just as important, is the shape of the space that exists around your object (the negative space) and the shape of the areas of light and dark that exist within them (what is the shape of the cast shadows, highlights?)
Remember that as you break up your picture plane into the "basic shapes", you are not including details, only creating an "envelope" that each shape may exist within, so DRAW LIGHTLY, as you will be moving and refining these shapes as you go.
Assignment: Use a full page of your sketchbook to identify the basic shapes of all the objects in the still life.
Line: What is the quality of line of the object your are drawing? Where are the lines bold? Where are they delicate? Light? Dark? curved? angular? etc. Also, consider whether or not there is a line that exists around your object. One very common mistake in drawing for realism is flattening out your objects by drawing a visible line around them. Often there is only a value change and not a hard solid line.
Assignment: Sketch two objects from the still life that have contrasting line quality, indicate how you will draw them differently.
Texture: Consider the surface quality of your objects, and the varying textures that may exist within even one object. For example, say you are drawing an apple, how would the texture of the skin be different from the texture of the stem? How might you represent the spotty or bruised areas to show that they are different from the smooth, firm areas?
Assignment: Find two contrasting textures within the still life. Draw the object(s) and fill in an area to indicate how you will suggest the contrasting textures.
Value: This one is huge! Getting the values right in a still life will "nail" the illusion of depth. This requires referencing you value chart, squinting, varying the pressure on your pencil, the softness of your pencil, and how much paper white you allow to show through your marks as you lay down your "tone". Also consider the "gradation" of values, how quickly or slowly the values transition from light to dark.
Assignment: Locate an area of the still life that has a wide range of value and gradation. sketch that to match the values in the photograph.
Space: The element of space was referenced in "shape" for its positive and negative qualities. But there is another aspect of space that refers to the concept of "perspective". Consider in your Still Life Composition the viewpoint that you have of each object. Are they overlapping? Does an object appear larger only because it is closer to you? Consider the top edge of an object like a glass, if it is at or close to eye level, the ellipse will be really flattened out, but the further down below eye level, the rounder the top surface of the glass appears to be (stacked perspective). The shape of an apple is different from the top than from the side.
Assignment: Find two objects that have ellipses, one close to eye level and one below eye level. Sketch those two objects as they are placed in the still life. This can be a contour line drawing, you do not need to apply tone or value.
Lesson: Complete the assignments listed above, label each one by the name of that element. Write a sentence or two that explains how you have accomplished this next to each of your sketches.
You should have at least one sketch for each of the five categories, filling five pages of your sketchbook. Title this assignment "Elements Still Life"