SRJC Art Classes of Michael McGinnis

Drawing actual size and studying shadows on a white background.

he goals of "Drawing A Small Object" are three-fold: to study shadow colors on white, to develop an understanding of an object’s form, and to forget about composition. This project is not as easy as it seems because for some people it is the first time they really study the way something looks, and why it looks that way.

To complete this project gather these things together:

A clean sheet of white paper for the background.
One small object of your choice (darker than the white paper).
Either a full sheet of 14" x 17" white drawing paper, or a 1/4 sheet of BFK Rives (11" x 15").
Your pastels.
Eraser.
Wet paper towel (for cleaning hands).

If you have not done so already, read these essays:

Mixing Color on Paper
Maintaining A Clean Drawing
The Color of Shadows
Measuring Proportion

The object and shadows do not visually cross
the paper’s edges from this point of view.

Your object will need to fit fully on the white background paper (laying flat on a table). Orient your object and paper so that the object and its shadow are completely encompassed by the paper from your point of view.

Study the shadow shapes and colors as described in The Color of Shadows.

Now that you have had a good look, begin to draw. Use your pencil to sketch the object and shadows. Draw very lightly, making their size as close to actual size as possible from your perspective, and completely within your paper. No part of the object or shadow should pass out of the drawing. See finished examples at the top of this page.

Once you’ve refined your sketch and feel satisfied with proportions and placement, begin coloring the shadows. For shadows on white paper, begin by pre-blending white into the area to maximize smoothness and to avoid drawing overly strong shadow colors.

Specular highlights are the color and shape
of the light source, distorted by the shape of the object. Next, draw the object while studying its own surface shadows, noticing how solid and bold these colors are in comparison to the white paper’s shadows. Details, such as specular highlights (shiny spots) should be drawn last. Note the shape and color of the specular highlights in my example. Why are they shaped this way? Consider the sources: a window and a spot light. Their colors and shapes are discernable, and the object’s contour distorts these shapes.

Use your eraser as needed to sharpen areas of your drawing where smudging has occurred or where contrasting details need to be drawn. In the end, most of the paper should be clean and untouched. A well done drawing can trick an innocent bystander into thinking there is a real object on your paper. Neatness is a factor.