Colours may be substituted or others used. Be creative!

Step 1



1. Using the tracing paper, draw an outline of each object, paying attention to its size and proportion.

2. Make a straight centre line with your ruler then draw around that line, measuring equal distances from the centre line. Then, fold your tracing paper along the line, choose the best side and trace it to the other side with a fine point pen.

3. Unfold the paper and you’ll have perfectly even sides.

4. Repeat the same steps with all objects in your still life.


Step 2



1. With the help of window light, transfer the outlined drawings onto the drawing paper.

2. Tape the paper’s sides to a window to prevent sliding.

3. Keep the lines straight using a ruler and draw with a 2H pencil.

4. Tap the lines with the kneaded eraser.

Top tip

A clean page is a must!


Step 3



1. Using a true blue pencil, establish the basic outlines and shade the simplified background.

2. Keep the pencil sharp so you don’t lose clarity when drawing the bottles’ edges.

3. The graphite outline must be very faint around the highlights so it doesn’t show through when you start shading them in colour.

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Step 4



1. Add indigo blue in the darkest areas of the composition.

2. Ensure that lines stay crisp and straight, and that the highlights repeat the curvature of the objects.

3. Dip the small brush into turpenoid and paint carefully over your drawing.

Top tip

Turpenoid dissolves the wax in the pencils, which results in a dark, smooth finish.

4. Leave to dry.


Step 5



Now you can start adding the colour!

Notice the simplification of forms within each bottle and how the colour of liquid (or the absence of it) changes things around.


Step 6

Glass looks real when it’s smooth.

1. Blend colours once again using turpenoid. Let it dry.

2. Add more colour, if needed.

3. Use white and light blue to draw over some of the shapes inside the bottles and around the highlights to soften the edge.

Note that the highlights stay free of colour to preserve luminosity.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bottles, coloured pencil,  (17x24cm)

Follow Sue Sareen's demonstration to paint glass and ceramics by clicking here.


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