The object I chose to draw was a paperclip as while it may seem like an insignificant object, it still plays a major role in our lives like holding our important documents together or even helping us stay organised. I used a variety of shades to create a visible contrast between the tones to make the drawing more lively. I also used different techniques like blending with my fingers and lifting with a kneadable eraser to make the artwork more realistic.

The most challenging part of this artwork was to capture the very minor details in the object. For example, the circular part and the refraction of the part below it had a lot of tiny reflections. It was extremely tough to draw because I kept getting the proportions wrong. However, I was determined to make this artwork a success and did not give up, and I eventually achieved the desired results.

Through this experience, I have not just had the opportunity to try out a completely new medium, but also learned how to control the strength of the charcoal applied to the paper as well as the fundamental drawing techniques to bring this artwork to life.

I chose to draw a close-up photo of an umbrella because it has many folds and would be interesting to create the whole realistic illusion. I observed carefully by looking at the shadows, and texture and used smudging, blending, and erasing techniques with charcoal. 

The most challenging part was creating the many folds using shadows and highlights because it was very defined and different from any other artwork I have done before. I learnt that adding the appropriate shadows and highlights makes a huge difference in terms of allowing the different parts to stand out such that the whole thing looks very realistic.

I feel very proud of myself because I managed to push through, even though I initially thought I wouldn’t be able to finish my artwork and doubted it would turn out well. I did not expect my work to turn out this way, which makes me very happy that all my efforts were not wasted in the end. I managed to put in time and stay back in school to finish my artwork and it really allowed me to put in my best effort and submit my best work. 

I chose to draw a close-up of a sharpener because it is essential in my school life. I observed carefully by looking at the shapes and lines, as well as the shadows, light, balance, and contrast. I used smudging and erasing techniques with the willow charcoal, eraser, and compressed charcoal pencil.

Inspired by Tang Ling Nah’s artworks and hopes, I wanted my artwork to encourage others to be grateful (饮水思源) for the simple, everyday objects that help us. As an artist, my goal was to make my artwork look very realistic, and I am happy that it turned out well. The most challenging part was sketching the initial proportions, as I had to do a lot of measurements and estimations. Through this, I learnt the importance of looking at the bigger picture and being more abstract, instead of focusing too much on tiny details. 

I chose to draw a set of metallic keychains, an object often overlooked in my life. Through the use of charcoal, I highlighted the contrast between light and shadow to bring out the shiny, complex textures of the metal. By focusing closely on their interlocking parts and enlarged scale, the clasps begin to resemble abstract shapes, prompting viewers to consider their structure and function more deeply. This reflects how easily we overlook the beauty in ordinary objects and everyday objects.

By looking at the shiny reflection and using blending techniques, I managed to create a realistic artwork. The most challenging part was drawing the reflection and details because they were difficult to duplicate, especially with smaller areas of highlights as the eraser size is slightly bigger. I learnt that shading plays a crucial role in creating depth and realism. 

By carefully observing the light source and applying different pressure with the charcoal, I was able to show how light reflects off the shiny metal surface. I also realised how small details, like tiny highlights, shadows within the objects, and texture differences, make a big impact on how realistic the object will look. 

LEE DANIEL 

CLAIRE NEO YU XIN 

I chose to draw a cup as firstly, I find it interesting to see the reflections and the way light rays pass through it. Second, I think that a cup is a common item that is used daily, though we do not pay much attention to it despite using it so often. We use it without a thought.

This artwork is a way to portray how such a seemingly ordinary object can be captured in a more interesting light. It shows an ‘unfamiliar’ object in a more captivating way since it is an object we usually ignore.

I observed the reference and had to pay attention to the contrast between the highlights and shadows of the cup. I used my fingers and the smaller tortillons to blend and smudge the charcoal to make the shadows more realistic.

Tang Ling Nah uses the strong contrast of black and white to make her artworks interesting. It amplifies the presence of the subject matter itself, showing the true form of the subject matter as is without relying on bright colours to make it seem captivating.

It was very challenging to make my artwork resemble the reference. To make it slightly easier, I made sure to choose the right shading techniques to ensure accuracy. I asked the teacher questions whenever I was unsure of something or how to achieve a certain look for the artwork. I also made sure to improve based on her feedback. I learnt that drawing with charcoal can be interesting and fun (despite the noise that it makes!) In the end, I finished my artwork and felt quite satisfied with the final outcome.

I feel that the theme 'Unfamiliar' Objects showcases regular everyday objects that most of us use on a daily basis but do not pay close attention to; like the small details found on the object and then presenting these objects in varying shades of grey, black, and white.

I chose to draw a close-up of a sharpener because of its interesting features. I observed carefully by looking at the shadows and used blending and erasing techniques with charcoal and eraser. The most challenging part was drawing the sharpener hole because it had different shades of shadow which made it hard to perfect. I learned that erasing was important in highlighting the reflections found on the sharpener. I feel happy with the result and think that my final work turned out well.

I chose to draw a close-up of a stapler as I use the object almost every day. The contrast between the darker areas of the stapler and the lighter background is the most obvious at first glance. Using compressed charcoal pencils, I darkened the areas needed to create contrast and layered the shading to enhance the 3-dimensional look of the object. I also used willow charcoal and tissue paper to do smudging, and an eraser to highlight certain points.

I referenced Tang Ling Nah's use of contrast and shadows to direct attention and applied it to my work. My goal for this artwork was to show respect for the beauty of overlooked ordinary objects. By emphasising the contrast, I intend to show the stapler with an intense, dramatic look. My biggest challenge was sketching out the form of the stapler as it was hard to get the proportions right. I learned the different techniques and tools used for charcoal art, as well as the importance of creating contrast between the highlighted and dark areas of an artwork.

I chose to draw a close-up of my stapler because of its interesting shape. It is an object that I use very often– especially in school. I also feel that it is not a common subject matter used in art.

I referenced the side of the stapler as I wanted to focus on the contrast between the highlights on the top of the stapler and the shadows on the inside of the stapler. 

I used the tortillon to blend the willow charcoal for the lighter parts and used compressed charcoal for the darker parts and cast shadows. I used an eraser to emphasise the highlights to create contrast against the shadows.

Tang Ling Nah's use of black and white in her art helped to show how art can still look compelling without bright colours. It also helps bring more focus to the subject matter as there are no bursts of colour that can distract the viewer.

I thought ahead by planning out the areas I aimed to finish first. I learned which charcoal techniques would work best and clarified with the teacher when I needed feedback on ways to improve. I made an extra effort to stay back for several days to further improve my artwork until I felt satisfied with the result. I think that smudging and blending the willow charcoal made my artwork look better as it gives it more contrast, though I would want to improve on casting shadows and learning how to shade them properly.