Still life composition of fruit/veg + check/log

I did a few rough sketches of banana, orange, apple and lemon compositions.  I liked the fact that a mix of the same colours featured in some way in each of the fruit and thought this might help the composition.  I felt it was a good idea not to bunch all the items too close together in the picture and despite doing that I think I achieved an impression of depth.  Also to add a plate or a knife helped the picture look more complete.  Also including the surface and background of the items being drawn gave better perspective and depth and reality to the composition.   The drawings below were done in pastel pencil.






The pepper, cucumper and lettuce were drawn with oil pastel.  I sort of gave up with the lettuce and it shows.

STILL LIFE CHECK AND LOG


Still life using line.. I liked focusing on line and then suggesting at form. I had problems in using an unalterable medium so mistakes couldn't always be made good. I like the graphic and simple nature of this type of still life though I think I need to get better at drawing simple lines and shapes to make it work.

Still life in tone - I liked this excersie, transposing tone with different colours. The problem I had was keeping to the 'key' and keeping concious of trying to indicate tone (light and shade) by using colour. But I think the end result is interesting to look at.

I feel I did get a sense of depth in my drawings by including an element of background. A setting. It also helped to group items together where they were in front or behind each other, though not too closely bunched up.

I think drawing using just line or just tone did raise issues of how I would depict the subject matter but that question arises with each different medium you use and for me that challenge is something I enjoy.

I do feel I am more interested in getting the impression of the subject rather than the overall composition. I note the guidance that the composition should occupy most of the papers surface though I don't think I necessarily fulfilled that but adding background did help. Though I understand the composition should dominate.

Regarding my learning from drawing the details fo fruit and vegetables. I think focusing on plains really helped me. To look for the plains helped a great deal in achieving the right shape of individual subjects.

The thing I find most challenging about this part of the course is my (probably misplaced and uninformed) lack of interest in still life! I do love the challenge of drawing anything but I find that I have an attitude about buying interesting shaped fruit and veg or plants (which can be expensive) then arranging them in an interesting composition (though I don't find it interesting) then drawing it before every goes off. I think my idea of drawing from nature involves getting outside and drawing nature, or animals inside or out. That sort of thing. But I do appreciate the benefits of drawing still life and thinking about composition and setting up lighting to practice everything you need to practise in order to draw from nature whereever you are. It is about creating the chance to observe in a controlled set-up way and that allows time to observe and learn.