Still Life Drawing
- drssmedia
- Sep 29, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 5, 2022
Finding Balance for a Still Life Painting
Most artists can recognize a well-composed still life painting. It simply feels balanced. But what is it that makes the painting feel that way and what is balanced? One way to make your still life is visually appealing and balanced is to follow the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is helps to add balance and tension to a piece of art.
By dividing your focus area or canvas horizontally and vertically into three sections and then aligning areas of focus on the intersections of those lines, you can create balance in a still life.
Tuesday Oct 4 IN class Critique Form
Wednesday Oct 5 in class exercise
In pairs, use the value scale provided to label the drawings according to values you can identify.
Next, try comparing the value scale to your drawing - do you have values representing one of each consistently on objects and their shadows throughout your drawing?
Rubric Drawing a Still Life
_____ /5 Composition - objects are arranged to fill space and create a balanced composition (positive and negative space), draws all objects as seen, consideration for focal point/rule of thirds, pathway of movement for eye.
_____ / 5 Proportion + Scale- objects are in correct proportion to one another in terms of size(scale) and spacing.
_____ / 5 Shading – All objects are consistently shaded to indicate a light source, mid tones, and shadows helping to render realistic form. Ideally includes 7-9 recognizable value steps. Employs shading techniques as appropriate to indicate texture or pattern (hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, random hatching or smudging).
_____ / 5 Craftsmanship – Work is clean and carefully rendered – all marks are intentional, edges of page are clean and intact - student demonstrates effort and care toward work.
_____ / 5 Effort/Studio habits/Reflection -student attempts to employ skills - is receptive to feedback, focused on task spending majority of class time engaged and focused on the work, treats others, tools and space with respect.
Student can articulate learning including 3 skills and utilizing at least 3 art vocabulary appropriately.
5- Meets and or exceeds all expectations – adept application of skills
4- Meets most expectations – is consistently demonstrating these skills
3- Meets a few expectations – still working to develop these skills
2- Attempts to employ skills – needs more practice
1-No evidence of these skills exists yet
Reflection + Share
Open a blank powerpoint. 2 Slides only!
Slide 1 is an image of your drawing.
PHOTO TIPS: try to frame your drawing so that you don't see anything but the drawing, avoid shadows on the image- sometimes helps to prop up. If you cant avoid getting other background in the picture, edit it on your computer and crop background out.
Slide 2 is a reflection.
Title: Drawing a Still Life
Refer to the rubric above and write a reflection describing how you addressed the following points on the rubric -
Composition - How did you approach organizing your composition (viewfinder/balancing positive/negative space)
Proportion and scale - (describe use of sighting to get correct proportions and spacing of objects)
Shading (Use of drawing pencils and shading techniques to create a range of values)
Any other drawing techniques you have learned and applied to this drawing (modified contour line, seeing negative spaces, etc)
Craftsmanship
This is worth points on the project rubric.
Upload your still life drawing reflection to this padlet gallery under your period section:
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