How to Draw a Simple Still Life of a Book Bag

Choose a simple-looking book bag to draw.

If you want to become better at drawing, practicing is the best way to get there. Sketching still life scenes, or images of items, is a fundamental skill every emerging artist should master. A book bag is an ideal item to use for a new artist's still life. It has simple, easy-to-copy lines, with minimal details. To get started, just find a backpack, good lighting and draw away.

Things You'll Need

• Book bag
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Paper
• Light source

Instructions

1. Place the book bag in a well lit area. Keep the background clutter free.

2. Sit in a comfortable position where you can see the backpack well.

3. Sketch the outline of the book bag on your paper.

4. Sketch the outline of the book bag's flap and the shoulder strap. Focus on getting the dimensions correct.

5. Sketch any other details that the book bag as such as pockets or zippers.

6. Look at how the light falls on the book bag. Begin shading your still life by starting at the darkest corner of the book bag. Using the side of your pencil, shade in the area, lightening your pencil strokes as you move toward where the light falls more on the book bag.

7. Finish any small details. Retrace some of your lines to make them more prominent to match the real book bag.

Tips & Warnings

• Use one strong light source to highlight the book bag. This will make shading easier.

References

• Empty Easel: How to Draw what you See: Techniques and Tips to Improve your Drawing Skills
• Wanafunzi.com: Still Life Drawing
• Art Lesson Plan: Contour Drawing with Shading