New Artist - 2016__

Grape Study: a step-by-step guide

Using a range of pencils and graphite powder, take your time to build up shadow areas.

It’s important

to have a clear

outline

Step 1

Step 3

Step 2. Achieve a range of tones

Step 4

Look at the lights and darks (tones) on each grape. If you have your

main light source to one side of your subject you should get a range

of tones from the highlights through to the shadow areas. Build these

tones up carefully with your pencil or try graphite powder (you can

buy graphite powder in a pot or make it by rubbing your pencil on

fine sandpaper). Pick up the graphite dust with a small brush and

apply it gently and build up the tones using a circular motion.

Add detail and shading on the stem using a 2H pencil. Add some

texture to the grapes to make them look as if they have a bloom.

A couple of water drops convey a sense of juiciness.

For this drawing use a range of pencils. A harder pencil (2H, 3H, etc)
will give you pale tones and sharp lines. Softer pencils (2B, 3B, etc)
are good for darker tones. Most day-to-day pencils are HB which is in
the middle of this range and are fine for the initial line drawing. Draw
out your grapes and erase any mistakes or extra lines so that you
have a clear, accurate drawing.

Take a look at where the grapes overlap, and add in the shadows that
you see. These cast shadows will be some of the darkest areas of your
subject. The success of your drawing may depend on getting these
areas dark enough. Use a softer pencil for these areas.