A still-life drawing is a work of art typically depicting commonplace
objects. The composition of the scene is as much a part of the
viewer’s experience as is the detail and treatment of the objects.
First, the viewer takes in the overall composition of the picture, but
as the viewer’s eye lingers, it focuses on individual elements.
Therefore, each piece in a still life must be carefully rendered.
A bowl of fruit is an excellent starting place. You can create a
reference model of it in your house in about five minutes. The shapes
are familiar, the subject matter is pleasing. It’s easy to draw, and it
lends itself to creative shading.
As a general rule of thumb, the fruit should appear to be:
- Easily recognizable. For example, avoid choosing things like whole
oranges. They are hard to distinguish in black-and-white drawings,
as their shape is generic. - Ripe. You want to show each piece of fruit at its plumpest.
- Fresh. Make them appear either moist or dewy or with a shine or
glow, and shade to suggest a deep, vibrant color. - Bountiful. No sparsely distributed grapes or berries, for example.
GRAPES