ASSIGNMENT ONE: DRAWING

Things will never look the same again.
The most basic component to any portfolio is the still life. Most people dread the thought of drawing something sitting on a table. But a still life doesn’t have to be fruit in a bowl or flowers in a vase. At its most basic level, a still life is a drawing of anything that doesn’t move. Sure, you can prop something into the corner of a room and draw it. But here’s a short list of other things you can draw.

Machine parts.
Take an old manual typewriter or sewing machine (make sure it’s not a valuable antique first!) and tear off its cover. Draw all the gears and complex mechanisms. Or lift the hood of a car and draw the engine parts. Make sure the whole piece of paper is covered with machine, no negative (blank) space showing.

A green pepper.
Cut a fresh pepper in half pepper and draw the innards. Again, make sure to cover the piece of paper with pepper (no, not literally).

Anything in your basement.
Water pipes, basement wood beams, piles of boxes; any environment, for that matter, will do. The top of a staircase looking down, the row of lockers in your school hallway, and the pile of clothes in your bedroom are other great challenges.

Architecture.
From a suburban ranch to a historic museum, buildings are wonderful to draw. Either draw the entire building from a distance, or better still, focus on a small section of a building; the decorative peak, the windowsill or an ornate brass doorknob.

If you think a still life is just too simple, try bottles. Get three square mirrors and arrange them like the corner of a room. Place several clear bottles, glasses or crystal on the mirrors and draw. Use something in color, either colored pencils, pastel or paint. Simple, right? Notice how every time you move your head an inch, all of the colors and shapes change. Everything is reflecting everything else, or is transparent. Simple.

It is important you work from real life. However, what materials you use and the size you work in is up to you. If you want to create a 3 foot square drawing of a pepper, great! If you prefer making smaller drawings in a sketchbook, that’s fine too. Pastel, charcoal, ink, and paints are all fine materials to use. Don’t feel every detail has to be perfect, allow yourself to experiment with these materials. Remember: have fun.