Still Life Basics: Arranging Everyday Objects

1. Choosing Your Subjects

The first step is to gather your "actors" for this scene. For a first still life, the simpler, the better. You're looking for objects that are essentially the basic 3D forms we studied earlier (spheres, cubes, cylinders).

Here are some guidelines for selecting your objects:

• Keep it simple: Look for items with clear, geometric shapes. Mugs, simple vases, books, boxes, and fruit like apples or oranges are excellent choices.
• Avoid complexity: For now, steer clear of objects with complex textures, transparent materials like glass, or highly reflective surfaces like polished metal. These introduce variables that are challenging to render.
• Go for non-perishable: While fruit is great, be aware that it might change over the course of a few days. For your first attempt, you might prefer objects that will remain consistent, like a coffee mug or a stack of books.

This short video provides a great overview of how to select and arrange objects for a simple still life.

2. Setting the Stage

Where you place your objects is just as important as the objects themselves. You need to create a controlled environment to eliminate visual distractions and manage your lighting effectively.

• Background: Place your objects in front of a plain, solid-colored background. This could be a wall, a large piece of paper or cardboard propped up behind them. A neutral background ensures your subjects are the main focus.
• Surface: A simple tabletop is fine. You can also lay down a piece of fabric to create interesting, soft folds and unify the scene.
• Creating a "Stage": A great pro-tip is to build a small "stage" using a cardboard box with one side removed. This creates a three-walled environment that helps block out unwanted light and makes your composition feel more contained and deliberate.

The following video demonstrates this staging process very clearly.

3. Composition: Arranging Your Objects

Composition is the art of arranging elements in a way that is visually pleasing and guides the viewer's eye. A random collection of objects can look chaotic, but a thoughtful arrangement creates harmony and interest.

For a more detailed breakdown of the principles for a strong composition, please read the following article.

Based on the resources, here are the key compositional principles to apply:

• Rule of Odds: Compositions with an odd number of items (e.g., three) often feel more dynamic and natural than those with an even number.
• Overlap: Don't place objects side-by-side in a line. Overlapping them—placing one partially in front of another—is a powerful way to create a sense of depth.
• Vary Height and Size: A group of objects that are all the same height can look static. Create more visual interest by choosing objects of different sizes or by placing one object on top of another (e.g., on a book) to vary the heights.
• Negative Space: Pay attention to the empty spaces between your objects. These shapes are just as important as the objects themselves. Try to create interesting and varied negative spaces rather than uniform gaps.
• Find Your Point of View: Once you have a rough arrangement, move around it. Look at it from different angles and heights. The appearance of your scene will change dramatically. Choose the viewpoint that you find most compelling before you commit.

4. Lighting Your Scene

In the previous module, we established that light creates form. For a still life, your goal is to have one single, strong, directional light source. This will create clear, easy-to-read shadows and highlights.

• Avoid Natural Light: Do not use light from a window. It changes its position and intensity throughout the day, which means your shadows will move while you're drawing.
• Avoid Overhead Light: Standard room lighting from the ceiling tends to be diffuse and flat, creating weak shadows.
• Use a Single Lamp: The best solution is a simple desk lamp or even a flashlight that you can position yourself. Place it to one side of your setup so that it rakes across the objects. This will create the dramatic form shadows and cast shadows that we'll need for rendering.

This final clip reinforces the importance of a single light source and shows the dramatic effect it can have.

5. Your Turn: Set Up Your Still Life

Now it's time to put it all together. This exercise is the main task for today's lesson.

Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes

Objective: To set up and compose a still life scene that you will use for the next few lessons.

1. Gather Your Objects: Find 1 to 3 simple, opaque household objects.
2. Create Your Stage: Find a spot with a plain background. If you like, create a "stage" with a cardboard box and lay down a piece of cloth.
3. Arrange and Compose: Place your objects on the stage. Experiment with their arrangement using the principles of overlapping, varying heights, and the rule of odds. Move around the setup to find the most interesting point of view.
4. Set the Lighting: Turn off the room lights. Position a single lamp to the side of your setup to create clear highlights and shadows.
5. Final Check: Look at your scene. Is it interesting? Are the shadows clear and well-defined? Does it look like something you want to draw?
6. Take a Photo: Once you are happy with your setup, use your iPad or phone to take a few photos of it from your chosen point of view. While we will be drawing from life, having a reference photo is an excellent backup in case the setup gets disturbed.

Conclusion

Great job! You've successfully prepared the foundation for your first major drawing project. Taking the time to craft a strong composition and lighting setup is a professional habit that pays huge dividends in the drawing and rendering stages.

Key Takeaways:

• Start with simple, opaque objects with basic geometric forms.
• Control your environment with a simple background and consider using a "stage."
• Arrange objects using compositional principles like overlapping, varying heights, and the rule of odds to create depth and visual interest.
• Use a single, directional light source to create clear, readable shadows.

In our next lesson, you'll sit down with your iPad and Procreate to begin the first stage of the drawing process: Create a line drawing of the still life, focusing on accurate proportions and placement.