Documenting time
DVB102 | Week 2 | #oneperday2020 | Images 1-5
The short life of a candle
This week's content is to draw a pencil sketch of an object that will change over time, through five images to interpret the theme of this week - The passing of time. During the COVID-19, I did not have many choices, so I decided to record the process of candles from lighting to melting, which sufficiently proves the passing of time. However, due to the rapid change process, I had to use my mobile phone to take five pictures with significant changes and then drew the below pencil sketches based on these pictures.
Image 1 Just lit
Materials:
• HB, 2B Pencils (German Lead)
• HB, 2B Pencils (German Lead)
• Eraser (Staedtler)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
Process: In the first image, I placed the candle in front of a white wall in a dark room and immediately took a photo with my phone and drew it with pencils. I mainly used pencils with low hardness (HB, 2B), because the contrast between the light and shadow of the candle just lit is not that strong.
Reflection: Maybe because I haven't done the sketching for a long time, the lines in the first image are not clear enough and a little fuzzy, especially the details of the candlelight are not handled properly, resulting in a feeling of integration of light and shadow. But I think I drew the overall shape of the candle well and the shape of the candle very vividly.
Image 2 Start to melt
Materials:
• HB, 2B Pencils (German Lead)
• HB, 2B Pencils (German Lead)
• Eraser (Staedtler)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
Process: The original photo of the second image was taken with my phone about five minutes after lighting. Since the main change process of this image is that the candle starts to melt and the wax drips down, rather than the light and shadow changes, the pencil hardness used is the same as the previous image (HB, 2B).
Reflection: Compared with the previous picture, I think the candlelight is more detailed, and I also adjusted the shape of the flame to clearly show that the flame at this moment is more stable than when it was just lit. However, I think the disadvantage of this picture is still that the lines of light and shadow are blurred, and the degree of shadow is the same, making the picture feel not strong enough and too soft.
Image 3 Burning violently
Materials:
• HB, 2B, 4B, 6B Pencils (German Lead)
• HB, 2B, 4B, 6B Pencils (German Lead)
• Eraser (Staedtler)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
Process: The third image depicts the candle after burning for ten minutes, using the same method as before. Due to the candle is in the most prosperous burning period, on the basis of using HB, 2B pencils, I also used 4B, 6B pencils to emphasize the portrayal of light and shadow, so that the overall image has a strong sense of contrast. In addition, I increased the size of the flame to show the changing process of the candle burning.
Reflection: Perhaps because of gradual proficiency, the lines in this image are obviously clearer than the previous two, especially the transition between light and dark at the bottom of the candle is more natural and real. However, for the dripping wax, I drew a little fake, not close enough to the actual photo.
Image 4 The last struggle
Materials:
• HB, 2B, 4B, 6B Pencils (German Lead)
• HB, 2B, 4B, 6B Pencils (German Lead)
• Eraser (Staedtler)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
Process: I used the same method to draw the candle twenty minutes after lighting. The hardness of the pencil used is same as the previous image (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B), but the times of uses of HB pencil increases, so the flame part is drawn more detailed.
Reflection: The light and dark transition of the candlelight and the part of the melted wax are more natural compared to the previous painting, especially I drew the tiny dots of wax dripping to the bottom. I think I did a good job on this image, basically no shortcomings.
Image 5 About to die
Materials:
• HB, 4B Pencils (German Lead)
• HB, 4B Pencils (German Lead)
• Eraser (Staedtler)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
• Artist Visual Art Diary (Derwent)
Process: This image shows a candle that is about to burn out. Due to the reduction of the candle body, I only used HB and 4B pencils for this image. By adding more shadows and reducing highlights, I emphasized the weakening of the candlelight before burning.
Reflection: I think the overall hatching is the best among the five images, but the lines at the bottom are drawn a bit blunt, not as natural as image 3.
