Topic 1 : Still Life
Still Life
Still life drawing is one of the important ways for those interested in practicing drawing, they can bring knowledge and understanding in principles and theories used in drawing such as the use of lines in various forms, selection of drawing angles, art composition, sketching, pictures and grounds translation, light and shadow value weight on various figures as well as transferring to achieve good atmosphere, distance, size and proportions, and linear perspective. Practitioners can apply those basic principles to practice in order to gain more skills, expertise and confidence.
Providing things and objects as models in still life drawing is convenient and easy, whether the differences in size, form or texture. It is suitably convenient for practitioners to practice drawing anytime.
Still life refers to line drawings or color paintings that translate a picture of object composition, unmovable objects, emphasis on the beauty to satisfy aesthetic. For this composition, there should be at least one man-made object such as a glass, a vase or other object to compose.
The advantages of still life
Still life drawing is more advantageous than other types. Drawers can arrange the models in any particular rooms, be concentrated, and solve problems in drawing. Because of unmovable object, it is suitable for early start drawer to notice a model in character, shape, size, proportion, light and shadow values weight, or texture, color and types of prototype object.
The study of still life is important to study in 2 types.
1. The study of light and shadow value weight of still life focused on every level which is high light, light, shadow, core of shadow, reflected light and cast shadow parts.
2. The study of shape pattern is to learn solidity of 3D objects (solid). When visualizing objects, drawers may transfer to lines, shapes, light and shadow values to draw on a 2D flat plane of paper or others. Firstly, apply the shapes of those drawn objects to the geometrical shapes, to designate the size, proportion, shape, form, and relation with others by visually calculation, and compare them with the picture drawn for the right proportions and 3D drawing.
The study of still life form
Visualizing forms in nature in terms of geometrical ones such as cylinder, sphere, cube, etc. is easy for drawer to sketch and complete detail in shading light and shadow.
Image of still life objects from a visualization
Image shows the transfer of the object form to geometric one which is easier for drawer to sketch and detail the drawing.
In still life drawing, transferring the visualized objects into geometrical forms with simple structure will make it possible to draw, proportionate the objects, followed by weighing light and shadow value precisely, the drawing is more accurate and easier.
Creating dimensions, distances of objects in still life drawing
Line drawing to create dimensions or distances of objects is a near or far distance in the drawing, causing the picture airy, not so dull. There are at least 3 popular distances: front, middle and far(back) distances.
Image shows 3 distances of still life drawing: front,
middle and far distances.
Distances of objects
The principle in drawing is a shape or close-to-eye object will be sharper, clearer, more details than further object. When looking at it, eyes will be blocked by the surrounded atmosphere, making the sharp visibility and details of the object reduced. The further the object, the more atmosphere in between.
Image shows the still life drawing with 3 dimensions or distances: front, middle and far.
Composition of still life drawing
It is not suitable to disperse all the objects at the front of the drawing, except the drawer intends to offer his/her point of view and creative idea, then transfer it to the picture.
Also, it is not suitable to equally balance the composition, the picture will lack distinctiveness and unity.
The possibility of still life composition is to position a distinctive feature on one side of the picture, not in the middle, which will make the picture unattractive (too bland or too plain).
The steps of sketching clustered still life
Sketching clustered still life is complicated, makes the drawer confused with partly blocked shape; therefore, sketching can be wrong.
The principles of sketching clustered still life are
1. Before sketching, notice the clustered still life models whether they occupying vertical or horizontal area of the drawing paper.
2. Roughly outline the overall shape of the objects to provide a balanced and unified position according to the art composition.
3. Start sketching the structure of No.1 object which is the high light or focus of interest in geometrical shape such as a sphere, a cube, etc.
4. Next sketch the structures of nearby objects. They can be overlapped, but the drawer needs to outline every full structure slightly.
5. When all the structures of each still life are completely sketched, stress every line as visually seen and leave the lines that are hidden or overlapped.
6. Complete all the actual details and apply the light and shadow value of the image as well as add weight in the middle and back distances.
Summary
Still life refers to drawings or color painting that translates a picture the organization of unmovable objects, with emphasis on the beauty. That the drawer can arrange his models in any particular rooms, can concentrate, also have time to notice the character, size, proportion, light and shadow values weight, texture and color are all the advantages of still life drawing. Two types of studying still life are 1. the study of light and shadow value weight and 2. the study of shape pattern by visualizing any pattern in geometrical forms which are easier to sketch and complete all the details of light and shadow in the drawing.
Drawing lines to create 3 dimensions or distances are front, medium and far. The principle is a close-to-eye object will be sharper, has more details than the one further, eyes blocked by the surrounded atmosphere, making the sharp visibility and details of the object reduced. It is not suitable to disperse all the objects at the front of the drawing, to equally balance the composition, the picture will lack distinctiveness and unity, to position a distinctive feature in the middle, which will make the picture unattractive. The principles of sketching clustered still life are to notice the clustered still life models occupying vertical or horizontal area of the drawing paper; roughly sketch to balance and also to unify the position of the objects from the highlight point to nearby objects until in full details; then apply the weight of light and shadow value; complete all the details as well as apply weight in every distance of the image.