Bowls: Two Round Ones and One Squarish One

Hats

Juicy Tangerines

Cup, Candle, Tangerine

No measuring today.

Geeking out on Perspective

Having noticed that the cylindrical shapes that I draw seem to be too rounded, especially at the base,  I decided to do some serious perspective study today to figure out what actually is happening when a circle is drawn in perspective. I decided to draw some glassware that I could see through, and the wine and cocktail glasses fit the bill: red, white, champagne flute, a martini glass, and a rectangular bottle for contrast. When I got down a tray for carrying them all upstairs to my desk, I noticed a dishtowel with a grid of squares. Perfect!

I decided to simplify things by using one-point perspective. I set up a grid on my paper, complete with horizon line, vanishing point,  and stationary point (at least two times as far away as the outer limit of the sketch from the vp) so that I could determine the depth of the square grid. Then I started drawing the bases of the glasses on the grid. I still need some work here, but now I know what to study next. 

I just eyeballed the tops of the glasses and their curves. That will be study for another day.

After all this thinking and staring at empty glasses, I felt the urge for a little reward. Cheers!

p.s. If anyone has suggestions for simply drawing glasses that look accurate, I'm eager to know them!

Practicing Scales

Today I practiced making ellipses by drawing them on the faces of cubes  drawn in various positions. Those are the shadows that are coming through the paper in this sketch.  Drawing ellipses is kind of like practicing scales. Hopefully, it will pay off one day.

Here's a color version...

By the way, if you go to Paris, be sure to bring back a periwinkle ceramic yogurt cup. The yogurt is delicious and you and your friends will find many uses for the resulting cup.