Most of the time when people draw something such as a still life, they draw the objects and then neglect everything around the objects, like the table holding it up, and the wall behind it. A drawing like this shows us a thing floating in nothing instead of an interaction of depth, volume, and surfaces inhabiting a full compositional space.
Still life sideboard with apple by Giacometti (1937)
Today’s OBSERVATIONAL Challenge:
Set up a scene, then remove the objects and draw what’s left. Find ways to describe the surfaces such as wall, table, floor or whatever else is in your scene, and make them look solid and interesting. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but if you need a little inspiration, take a look at the Giacometti drawings here. See how he makes marks across the surfaces to activate them and give them surface. #setthestage
Thank you to our drawing teachers Fran O’Neill and Lyall Wallerstedt for giving us this challenge. Interested in exploring this idea in a class? Beginning Drawing and Drawing II both start this week. I’ll be taking Fran’s Drawing II. So fun! Classes are all online so I can zoom in from my comfy spot and munch on snacks. Come join us! Class sizes are small and space is limited, so don’t wait! Click here to see more.
(detail of Giacometti’s still life sideboard)
Post it
To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #setthestage so we can find your post.
To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these to your post:
[image_with_animation image_url=”10579″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] How many different surfaces have you painted on? It wasn’t until I discovered linen that I liked my oil paintings. Really. Everything I did when I painted, I hated. Well, at least I felt it wasn’t working. The way I moved the paint just kind of felt… meh. I …
You likely heard the news that Notre Dame burned yesterday. The images of the cathedral burning are stunning. A beautiful horrible romantic tragedy. That’s what Dames are made of Construction of the cathedral began in 1163, and was completed in 1345. The wood used for the framing of the cathedral consisted of 1,300 oak trees, or 2.5 acres …
As preparation for this Saturday’s workshop Paint like Degas, I’m digging in some art history to get perspective on the range of Degas’ art. Although he was eternally unsatisfied with his work, and he could a miserable jerk to people, early in his career it seems he was especially extra miserable with his artwork. He …
[image_with_animation image_url=”9734″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] I was sitting here, as one does, thinking “you know, I don’t actually remember what my own fingerprints look like. They’re right here in front of me, every day, and I couldn’t identify my own darned fingertip in a line-up. Today, study and draw your fingerprint. To make your …
Day 23: Set the Stage #30SAL
Most of the time when people draw something such as a still life, they draw the objects and then neglect everything around the objects, like the table holding it up, and the wall behind it. A drawing like this shows us a thing floating in nothing instead of an interaction of depth, volume, and surfaces inhabiting a full compositional space.
Today’s OBSERVATIONAL Challenge:
Set up a scene, then remove the objects and draw what’s left. Find ways to describe the surfaces such as wall, table, floor or whatever else is in your scene, and make them look solid and interesting. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but if you need a little inspiration, take a look at the Giacometti drawings here. See how he makes marks across the surfaces to activate them and give them surface. #setthestage
Thank you to our drawing teachers Fran O’Neill and Lyall Wallerstedt for giving us this challenge. Interested in exploring this idea in a class? Beginning Drawing and Drawing II both start this week. I’ll be taking Fran’s Drawing II. So fun! Classes are all online so I can zoom in from my comfy spot and munch on snacks. Come join us! Class sizes are small and space is limited, so don’t wait! Click here to see more.
Post it
To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #setthestage so we can find your post.
To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these to your post:
#30sal #setthestage #vnotes #creativechallenge #januarychallenge #drawingchallenge #drawing #art #sketch #artchallenge #artist #draw #artistsoninstagram #sketchbook #instaart #artwork #drawingoftheday #dailydrawing #oilpainting #mixedmedia #drawingsketch #artoftheday #creativity
Padlet
Don’t have Instagram? Post your work to Padlet.
DAY 23: SET THE STAGE https://seattleartistleague.padlet.org/SAL/p7q2x2le410zm3b9
DAY 22: REVERSE PERSPECTIVE https://seattleartistleague.padlet.org/SAL/zady37uhzbw40wso
DAY 21: BACCHUS & ARIADNE https://seattleartistleague.padlet.org/SAL/ae63k1leakeqttu5
Deadline for Prizes
Deadline for submissions: 3 days after each challenge post.
January prize winners will be announced in February.
To learn more about the 30SAL Challenge, click here.
Online drawing classes start this week!
Related Posts
Surfaces
[image_with_animation image_url=”10579″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] How many different surfaces have you painted on? It wasn’t until I discovered linen that I liked my oil paintings. Really. Everything I did when I painted, I hated. Well, at least I felt it wasn’t working. The way I moved the paint just kind of felt… meh. I …
Artwork at Notre…. oh Dame
You likely heard the news that Notre Dame burned yesterday. The images of the cathedral burning are stunning. A beautiful horrible romantic tragedy. That’s what Dames are made of Construction of the cathedral began in 1163, and was completed in 1345. The wood used for the framing of the cathedral consisted of 1,300 oak trees, or 2.5 acres …
Degas’ Failed Historical Paintings
As preparation for this Saturday’s workshop Paint like Degas, I’m digging in some art history to get perspective on the range of Degas’ art. Although he was eternally unsatisfied with his work, and he could a miserable jerk to people, early in his career it seems he was especially extra miserable with his artwork. He …
SAL Challenge: Fingerprint
[image_with_animation image_url=”9734″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] I was sitting here, as one does, thinking “you know, I don’t actually remember what my own fingerprints look like. They’re right here in front of me, every day, and I couldn’t identify my own darned fingertip in a line-up. Today, study and draw your fingerprint. To make your …