18.5.19
Part 1, Project 2, Exercise 4 – Shadows and Reflected light
With the two objects there was less of an issue of composition. The requirements of the task were that the objects were to be arranged in such a way that the objects related to each other with tone, shadow and reflections. I chose a ceramic tea caddy and a metallic round teapot. I like the idea that these two objects live together in a daily context and ‘work together’ in a practical way too. Arranged like this there was an opportunity to see the tea caddy in the reflection of the teapot, and the angle of the caddy and the tile the teapot rests on, create different diagonals within the composition.
I was initially very challenged getting the proportions right to fill the page and as the drawing began to grow I could see that parts of it were not joining together as it should. I rubbed all this out, and still using the same paper retried drawing it at least twice before being happy with the ‘big’ shapes and their relative scale and positioning.
I liked how the shapes on the teapot echoed the rounded form.
I was conscious that I was able to bring my learning from the other exercises to this exercise, particularly when it came to recognising the range of tones that can be found in shadows.
Reflections
Value of Exercise?
- Drawing large scale
- Developing knowledge of charcoal and its abilities and limitations
- Growing awareness of the importance of tone and shadow to create realistic forms
What did I learn?
- How to use charcoal to lay down tone to create form, rather than being driven solely by line.
- Developing skills to arrange image so that I can best fill paper I am using
- Advantages of an electric rubber
- To work in a looser style than I might usually
Future ideas and wonderings
- Whilst this stark, backgroundless imagery works for this drawing I should give more consideration to what might be in the background in subsequent drawings?
Cathy's OCA Drawing 1 Blog 