Last night I set up a still life for Ponterwyd Art Club to sketch on Zoom. Well should have been an easy task to put some things together. We had been practising with cups and saucers so sensible to continue that theme, add a few tiny cream jugs a glass bottle and some flowers. Except what would have looked great in a normal class now had to look good through a camera on to a computer screen. Obviously I balanced my tablet on its special cushion- absolutely not going to work. So then boxes get put on a chair a small art stand to balance the phone, turn the camera, hide some of my clutter with a sheet over an easel. Discover what looks good to the eye isn’t so good through a camera. Move everything about 5 times.Here is the picture we worked from in the end.

Still Life.
This was my attempt whilst talking about pencils H or HB to draw. Start with a light almost broken line, make the line bolder as you are happy. Then put in shadows with 2B or 3B use the Mark’s we practiced last week. Contour hatching was my favourite for this. I didn’t do to well on initial placement. I didn’t leave room for the flowers.

At the end of the session I took a photograph so everyone could either improve or like me have another go. Much happier with my second attempt. Lesson learned next time set up day before and forward the photo, making it easier for everyone.

Still life from photograph.
Try it yourself.