Still life drawings train artists to draw what they see, increasing their ability to recognize contrast and shape. When an artist first starts his training, he draws simple objects using graphite pencils. Pencils offer the benefit of being erasable, while working without color encourages an artist to focus on shading that represents contrast. To set up the scene for a still life drawing, an artist places a variety of objects on a level surface and adds a light.
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| Still life with light and shade | Still life with light and shade |
Two things govern the effectiveness of highlights and shadow in a
painting. As opposed to the way most people usually paint in oils, in impasto
(which means using thick, paste like layers and working from dark to light) in watercolor
we traditionally work in thin, transparent glazes and from light to dark. For
the layman this means establishing your areas in light and shade early on and
if necessary, or if you’re able, “reserve” you’re brightest, cleanest
highlights in clean white paper, building your shadows carefully, intensifying
the deeper tones and shadow in a painting.
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| Still life with light and shade | Still life with light and shade |
