Homework: Value Drawing: Peppers

Project Description:
A value drawing of a bell pepper (green, red, orange, or yellow), sliced in half, from observation. 

Directions:
Cut a bell pepper in half. Show both halves of a pepper as they sit on the surface of the table. The first half should be positioned to show mainly the interior, with part of the exterior in view. The second half should be positioned so that you will be drawing the exterior. The two halves should be positioned so that they will just slightly overlap each other in your drawing, but so that they will both be clearly in your view. Place a single light source on the set-up. Include an environment, real or imagined or both.

Objectives:

• Improve accuracy in capturing contour and proportion of an observed object.
• Render form through chiaroscuro (“lights and darks”).
• Emphasize the structure of a simple organic form.
  • (In this case, the structure of the pepper will be most obvious from the “skeleton” of the interior, but also from the bends and creases on the exterior.)

Materials:

• Graphite (Use 2B, 4B and 6B)
• Pink eraser
• Kneaded eraser
• Pencil sharpener
• Drawing paper - sketchbook size (11 x 14", 60 lb. paper) or larger

Parameters

• Use the entire picture plane.
• Make this a "portfolio-worthy" drawing.

Grading Criteria:

• Realism of contour and proportion
• Realism of form and structure
• (Design of the page)

To Start:

• Start with a light line, using the 2B pencil, to capture accurate contour (line) and proportion exactly as you observe them.

Tips

• Use a full range of value, working up the darker tones by gradually building up from the 2B to the 4B, and using the 6B pencils just for the darkest values.
• Reserve whites for the highlights. Use deep blacks and a full range of gray tones.

Self Critique Questions

• As you draw, ask yourself if you are doing the following (You should be!):
• Fill the page.
• Consider the entire page as a composition. Add value to the negative space as necessary.
• Consider the observed relationship between the positive shapes and the negative shapes, especially the spaces between the halves.
• Start with a light line, using the 2B pencil, to capture accurate contour (line) and proportion exactly as you observe them.
• Use a full range of value, working up the darker tones by gradually building up from the 2B to the 4B, and using the 6B pencils just for the darkest values.
• Reserve whites for the highlights. Use deep blacks and a full range of gray tones.

AND When you believe you are close to completing this, ask yourself:

• In its present state, is this something you can put in your portfolio for college applications?