This next assignment is going to be a shorter study in which we'll be drawing on black paper with colored pencils. Good papers to use (also on your syllabus) is Canson Edition in Black or Canson Mitientes in Black. (Mi-tientes are sold at the on-campus bookstore). This assignment will further reinforce our study of value, which we started when we did the last project, crosshatching.

The main difference is that in this assignment, you'll be using the white/light colored pencil materials to show the highlights and the midtones. For the really deep shadows you won't have to put any marks down because the black paper will serve as the dark shadows.

When we did crosshatching, it was the exact opposite. We had to keep the white of the page in order to have our highlights. When we put down marks, it was to define mid-tones and shadows.

As usual there is also an accompanying video demo of this, so please also look at the youtube channel.

Here's what to do to start your drawing.

First, cut your paper to the following dimensions: 18" x 18" (again, either use the paper cutter in Bloch Rm 1, or a straightedge ruler and an exacto knife/boxcutter. Do NOT use scissors!!)

In the center of the 18" x 18" square, you are going to measure off a smaller space to work in, 10" x 10"

Draw a light pencil mark to create a 10" x 10" square in the middle of the larger 18" x 18" paper.

Next, pick two objects. They should be something REFLECTIVE. A glass jar, a glass vase, a shiny can, etc. It should have really strong reflective highlights.  Think about the relationship between the object to each other -- experiment with different objects and how they look next to each other (you might want different textures, i.e. metal and glass, or different heights, one thing tall and the other short.

When you are placing them on a desk to draw, it can be helpful to put a direct light on them, which will make the highlights and shadows even stronger. It can also be easier to put it a little further away from you because it's a little easier to draw that way, compared to if you're looking over the top of the objects (the perspective is just more difficult).

First start your contour with white colored pencil. Keep the marks really light. It will look something like this:

A quick note on ellipses, since you will be drawing rounded objects. Often, beginning students have a hard time with getting ellipses (the top rounded and bottom rounded parts of the drawing) in correct perspective. The most common error is to make the top part a perfect circle, when you are really looking at an ellipse (a circle in perspective). Another common mistake is to make the edges of the ellipse pointed, or to make the ellipse lopsided.

Here is what an ellipse should look like, and of course it will vary depending on the relationship between you and the object you're drawing. The only way you'd have a circle is if you are staring over it at a "bird's eye view." If you are at eye level, and it's sitting on a desk a little far away, you'll have an ellipse.

Continue the drawing by adding more colored pencil. Keep in mind what we've discussed so far as far as value, contrast, and direction of line. Be sure to include strong bright highlights as that will make the objects look reflective. Here is the continuation of the drawing, as well as a few more examples.

Be sure to post pictures of your drawing in stages in order to receive feedback throughout the process of this drawing.