In my last post, I talked about how important it is to draw from life and it’s a lot easier to do that if you know how to set up a simple still life. Here are some pointers:
- Use an odd number of objects. (An odd number is more interesting to the eye than an even number.
- If all your objects are the same, like my hazelnuts, pose each of them in a different way to add interest.
- As you arrange your subjects, overlap them a bit. One object that stands alone will usually draw the eye and have more “weight” than it should. The overlap should be solid. If two objects don’t overlap but just “kiss” each other instead, the “kiss” point can be very distracting.
- Good lighting is essential! For beginners, it’s best to work with one main light source. A bright adjustable light works best. Place the light to the side and slightly above your still life for lighting that creates solid shadows that are easiest to render.
- The objects in your still life can be any size. As a matter of fact, small still lives are easier to set up and can be drawn in relatively shorter amount of time.