How to Draw a Still Life on Coquille Paper

Still-life drawing is both a good way for beginners to get started learning drawing techniques and a helpful task for advanced artists to practice their realism skills. If you want to add an interesting visual effect to your next still life, try drawing on coquille paper to create a half-tone effect, as you might see in comic strips or other print media.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Coquille paper
• Drawing pencils
• Gum eraser

1. Purchase coquille paper or coquille board--depending on whether or not you want to draw on a rigid surface--at an art supply store. If you're not sure what coquille paper looks like, it has a pebble-like texture and may come in various sizes.

2. Set up your still life. Beginning artists will want to set up a simple still life with organic objects like fruits and vegetables, as well as baskets or clay pots. Avoid difficult textures or transparent substances, and make sure you have a smooth background of uniform color.

3. Take a photograph of your still life set up when you are happy with the composition and lighting. Even if you want to draw from the still life, the picture will help you remember the composition and lighting if things get moved.

4. Focus on the contrast in your still life when drawing on coquille paper. Shade the dark areas completely and lighten up areas by blotting with your eraser. The texture of coquille paper has the best effect with deep contrast.

5. Create sharp lines and definition between objects in your still life when drawing on coquille paper. Because the texture of the paper adds a depth dimension to the picture, avoid drawing or shading that creates fuzzy areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid blending with a blending stick or tissue when working with coquille paper, since using tools to blend can get graphite in between the textured bumps of the coquille paper and diminish the effect of using it. Remember that the result should look pixelated as in a half-tone effect.