Drawing II, taught by Sean Oswald in Spring of 2024

Graphite on paper, 18 x 24

This drawing is a commemorative still life intended to showcase my journey through multiple art forms, which has ultimately culminated in my pursuit of a studio art degree. This drawing features nods to classical ballet, textile art, fashion design, writing, reading, woodworking, pottery, and collection. It measures at 18 inches by 24 inches including a 1 inch border. This substantial size makes the piece easy to interact with.

The main subject of this piece is a tabletop dress form sitting in the center. Due to its strategic positioning, the eye is automatically drawn to the form. There is a glass knob on the neck of the form, and the dress form is covered in poetry. Some of these poems are from Ogden Nash’s collection “I’m a Stranger Here, Myself”, and some were written by myself. There is a swatch of satin pinned to the form in a wrinkled way, adding complexity and visual interest to the overall piece. This swatch covers some of the words, adding further intrigue. A pair of pointe shoes is draped across the shoulders of the dress form. They are smudged and used, meant to tell a story of countless performances. They are hanging asymmetrically to create visual interest and achieve balance in conjunction with the objects below. They are tied together with a bow that peeks out from behind the neck of the form. Inside the shoe on the right are three pencils, which stick out from the box of the shoe. The base of the form is wood and dark gray, nearly blending into the background.

At the base of the dress form is a wooden star and a small trinket chest which is open to reveal a dragonfly painted on the inside of the lid. In front of these objects lies another pair of pointe shoes, whose ribbons are tangled together haphazardly. In the top right corner of the tabletop lies two shattered teacups, which sit in puddles of spilled tea. The darkness of the spilled tea ties in the dark toned background and makes it appear less stark in comparison. In the foreground lies a large stretch of the satin in a heap, however, it breaks the edges and only part of the swatch is shown. Next to it lies another broken teacup, also sitting in a puddle of tea. This drawing utilizes texture, as shown in the wooden star, satin swatches, and the pointe shoes. It also utilizes pyramid composition. The shapes lead to organic as opposed to geometric, as the fabric, ribbons, and cup shards are naturally free-flowing. This drawing also utilizes reflection in the spilled tea, glass knob on the dress form, and the shiny satin. 

This drawing tackles negative space in an intentional way, with the background darkened to allow the subjects to stand out. This darkened background allows the ribbons and pointe shoes to shine and complement their delicate shading. The table top is left white to capture light and shadow as it applies to the piece, which has overhead lighting.