X-Post A charcoal drawing from University days 1992.

[PaintBoss]

I was searching through some of my portfolios.This is something I did the second year of university in about 1992. The professor had a bunch of beat up items that he put on a table on a white sheet and he closed the blinds, turn off most of the lights, and said pay attention to the dark and the lights and the shadows. So that was the lesson to this large charcoal drawing.
Thought I would post it. It’s a good exercise. Note that none of these items had details like labels, etc.. and it’s a reminder that still life can be any old thing at all.

 

[txomsy]

Wonderful lesson. That should be in every book and training.

 

[Sanlynn]

Wonderful looking light and shadows. Great exercise.

 

[PaintBoss]

Thank you, it is a good exercise. Also you can do the same with two or three eggs. Put them on a piece of white paper, put on one source of light from any direction and draw it with pencils. It makes you pay attention. Now if you don’t use just one source of light, it can be a little trickier, pay attention to the shadows because they aren’t always as dark as you think, and they can vary in tone as well. If you have multiple lights on, you’ll have an interplay of shadows, some very slight. also, there can be a hint of light on the objects in places you don’t expect. I just mention this for any beginners who might be looking for some exercises and come across this post.

 

[Donna T]

Nicely done, Christine! A single light source makes all the difference and gives you those dramatic shadows.

 

[PaintBoss]

Thanks Donna!