Candy Still Life.

Artist's Statement. 

The idea behind this artwork was to create a still-life drawing or painting of at least three pieces of candy. I chose four candies; Reese’s, Dots, Hubble Bubble, and a Tootsie roll. They are all very classic candies, which is exactly what I wanted to include. I also liked the color variety on all of the packaging; it was eye-catching. Mainly, the idea behind this portrays the use of shading and perspective along with the skill of materials. 

To create this piece, I used a 2H graphite pencil, colored pencils, and a gel pen on toned pastel paper.

First, I used a 2H pencil to grid the paper and my photograph. The grids allowed me to ensure the proportions were correct and in line. Then I sketched out the large shapes and outlines of the candy, and the logos and writing on the packaging. The 2H pencil is light, so it is perfect for sketching and this is why I chose it for this step. Secondly, I used many shades of colored pencils to match the color and copy the packing of the candy. I layered and used shading techniques to create dimension and smooth colors. A colorless blender also helped me create a smooth surface. This created some issues with further blending, and I wish I had used it only at the very end. I learned a lot from this problem. Finally, I used a white gel pen to show reflection on the candy, which proved to be difficult as the gel did not work great on colored pencils. So, I tried to use a white colored pencil as well to make it more bold. Lastly, I used colored pencils to try to create shadows beneath the candy. I used shades of yellow, grey, and blue to show the contrast and drop shadows of the candy colors in the shadow. At this point, my artwork was finished.