Still Life Drawings - Melody Hsu

A small bottle of perfume caught my eye while I searched the room for something to draw. It gleamed in the light as I picked it up and turned it around in my hand. The bottom slightly curved upwards -- the remainder of the liquid refracted the light and created a complex series of highlights and shadows. The top of the bottle has got smooth curves on both sides, capped with a molded ceramic flower. The delicately designed cap brought visual interest to the simplicity of the glass body. Though, the glass itself is not overly simple as there is much to play around with when it comes to reflecting light and casting shadows.

Day 1: Study of Line

I started by studying the outlines of my object, along with the different kinds of shapes embedded within. I placed the glass object sideways to cast a deep shadow and chose to use a black marker on a piece of smooth, white, glossy card stock, inspired by the Blind Contour Drawing method. I let my pen flow as I recorded every segment of shape my eyes captured. This process helped me in the following days as I noticed it became more natural for me to see distinct shapes created by the light and shadows.

Perfume, 11" x 17", Marker on White Glossy Card Stock

Day 2: Study of Color 

I attempted to study the color of my object and how it interacted with light. I practiced this by depicting the perfume bottle under bright natural light. Through the use of pastel pencils specifically on a piece of black cardboard paper, the colors are effectively isolated, simultaneously allowing the highlights to pop.

Perfume, 3" x 4", Pastel Pencil on Black Cardboard Paper

Day 3: Study of Light and Shadow 

Now that I’ve looked at the colors and its response to light, I wanted to take a more specific look at how each surface interacted with light. I set up an artificial lighting source on the left side of my object for observation and selected charcoal as my recording medium of choice. A single piece of charcoal allowed me to accurately capture the contrasts of the lightest and the darkest sections of the glass and everything in between.

Perfume, 6" x 7", Charcoal on Drawing Paper

Day 4: Study of Detail

I fancied to further explore the details of the reflections and refractions at the bottom of the perfume. I chose to do so through a semi close-up of the edge of the glass. With the perfume tipped over slightly under natural light, I quickly blocked out the shapes using watercolor. Once I had a solid foundation, I carefully added in the details by darkening and outlining specific areas. I intentionally used monochrome to explore how that would influence the overall feel of the recording compared to the ones previously done in color and black and white.

Perfume, 2" x 2", Watercolor on Cold Pressed Paper

In searching for new ways to look at the same thing every day, I observe things in much more detail than before. Now, I see more than just a bottle of perfume, I perceive the light and how it plays with each fold, bump, and curve.

Side Note:

As an artist I work a lot with lines and black and whites, so for this project, I wanted to try something new. To experiment, I added blocks of color to my 1st drawing - with watercolor on glossy card stock - it dried with a lot of texture which I loved. I felt that this experiment added a sense of playfulness, while the previous piece was more delicate and still. I enjoyed exploring how colors can shift the spirit of a piece of work.

Perfume, 11" x 17", Marker with Watercolor on White Glossy Card Stock