Strawberry Box Charcoal Still Life Drawing (Carbon Footprint #24)

Strawberry Still Life

No matter when I get around to hulling the strawberries, there's always one or two that are too squishy even for the dog to eat. I had to draw this one quick though. After a day of sitting under the hot studio lights I had a legion of little whizzy flies trying to get in on the act - damn this humidity!

In fact I wouldn't be surprised to find a couple mashed into the charcoal. Do you think that makes this a "mixed media collage"?

Description : Charcoal and pastel still life drawing of sliced strawberry stalks littering the empty plastic box

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

A Moldy Green Pepper : charcoal and pastel drawing (Carbon Footprints #23)

charcoal drawing of a moldy green pepper

Salad box corner

Silently growing fur coat

Green pepper wrinkles

Description : Charcoal and pastel combine in this still life drawing to capture the black and wrinkled flesh of a green pepper as it slowly molds into its compostable cardboard tray : compost in the making

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Tomato Box : charcoal and pastel drawing (Carbon Footprints #22)

Tomato Stalks and a Plastic Box - charcoal and pastel drawing

This plastic tomato box threw out great shadows and highlights to capture in charcoal. And the spiny tomato stalks are always fun to draw. This is on Canson Edition paper and I love how the smoothed charcoal looks. Last weeks Coke Glass was the first time I have used this paper and I was enchanted by the soft textures it produced. I have saved half of this sheet to test with color pencil, so this drawing is smaller than those of the past few weeks.

Description : All the tomatoes are gone, just the stalks are left in the empty plastic box.

This pastel and charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

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Broken Coke Glass charcoal still life drawing (Carbon Footprints #21)

Charcoal Drawing Broken Coke Glass

The last of my Coke glasses bit the dust this week. Victim of an over enthusiastic, badly stacked dishwasher.

I bought four when we arrived in America, with not a cup, glass, plate or spoon to our name...and only three weeks before Christmas...when the snow lay thick on the ground...

ooo - I think I hear violins

But as it happened our luck was in. As you all well know EVERYTHINGgoes on sale before Christmas in America. This was the first indication I had that I was truly in a crazy foreign land. In Britain, we tend to leave our sales until January...or Boxing Day at the very least. When no-one has any money left...

hmmm...I'm beginning to see the light

So as my Dollar Store glasses have now served nearly thirteen years, I think they have earned the honor of being immortalized in charcoal.

Description : a Coca Cola glass lies broken and discarded, casting an eerie shadow on the wall behind

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Fast Food Debris Charcoal Drawing (Carbon Footprint #20)

charcoal drawing of fast food trash

Phew! I was beginning to think I had bitten off more than I could chew, but I finished this drawing just in time. "Name that Sketch" really would not have been the same without the sketch!

Lulu is particularly fond of this one. She's been hanging out in the studio again, sniffing the air with a hopeful look on her face. In fact the final drawing was nearly swept away just as I was photographing it - prey to a frantic tail, over-happy at the prospect of lunchtime.

Description : Fast food cups and boxes, napkins and chicken nugget containers litter the table. Want fries with that?

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Pineapple Hull charcoal and pastel drawing (Carbon Footprint #19)

pineapple fruit still life drawing

mmmmm - the hot studio lamp has been toasting this all day and the smell of gently warming pineapple has permeated the studio. It's making it very difficult to leave and very enjoyable to return.

Description: Charcoal and pastel combine to give this large still life drawing the look of an old hand colored photograph. The pineapple has been sliced and cored, leaving just an empty skin. But the warm golden orange combines with cool acid yellow to give a mouthwatering taste of the missing fruit.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the "Carbon Footprints" series. Affordable Giclee Art Prints available to buy on Etsy

Watermelon Rind charcoal and pastel drawing (Carbon Footprint #18)

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It's amazing what you find when you clean up. I found a whole tin of Faber Castell pastel pencils that I bought on eBay ages ago, mistaking them for regular color pencils. They had been squirrelled away for a rainy day...and there have been plenty of those recently.

When I finished the charcoal drawing of watermelon rind, I realised that what I really loved about this still life set-up was the cool pink flesh contrasting with the acid green skin.

And then I remembered the pastel pencils. I quite like the subtle effect. I think it has the feeling of a hand colored old photograph.

Description : Humble, everyday watermelon rind is transformed into a sculptural, almost abstract piece of art in this delicate pastel and charcoal picture. Perfect artwork for your kitchen or dining room.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the "Carbon Footprints" series. Affordable Giclee Art Prints available to buy on Etsy

Avocado Skin charcoal still life drawing (Carbon Footprint #17)

avocado charcoal still life drawing

It wasn't until I started drawing that I realized quite how much space an avocado pit takes. There's hardly any room left for the flesh. Good job avocados are so darn tasty. The price per pound on that pit must be huge.

I like to scoop my avocado right from the peel for an afternoon snack. Or for a super fast dinner - sliced, with rare cooked ahi tuna steak...over wilted spinach salad...drizzled with mango dressing...

Oh yummy, now my mouth is watering. Is it dinnertime yet? How do you like your avocado?

Picture Description : Dramatic black and white charcoal drawing of an empty avocado skin and pit. Creating art from garbage.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series.

Affordable Giclee Art Prints available to buy on Etsy

Fried Chicken Bones and a Beer : charcoal still life drawing (Carbon Footprint #16)

chicken bones and napkin : charcoal still life drawing

Lulu is rather fond of this drawing. She would occasionally wander into the studio; stand under the still life table; sniff hopefully and put on her cutest face.

Poor Lulu. I had to give her crispy chicken skin for lunch, to ease my conscience.

Description: Charcoal and chalk combine in this still life drawing of chicken bones wrapped in a paper napkin with a beer bottle cap : all that is left over from a delicious late night dinner.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series

Used Teabags and Spoon : charcoal and chalk drawing (Carbon Footprint #15)

charcoal drawing of used teabags and spoon

Something a little new. This week I have added white chalk to the charcoal to create the crisp white string on the teabag and the silver spoon.

Now I have some experience under my belt, I have been re-reading the book that started me on the charcoal drawings - Drawing With Charcoal, Chalk, and Sanguine Crayon - to get some more tips and techniques. I like to read my favorite art books again and again to refresh my ideas.

And yes, I really do drink this much tea. In fact, rather more. This pile only managed to get me to lunchtime, before they were needed for the still life.

Now, spot of afternoon tea anyone?

Description : Charcoal and chalk combine in this contemporary still life drawing of used teabags and a teaspoon. Everyday objects transformed into art.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series