A Study in Ellipses

11/26/14 Platinum Carbon ink, Pitt Artist Pen, Van Gogh watercolors, Stillman
and Birn Beta sketchbook

The other day I showed you a still life of ingredients that would be unlikely to appear in the same recipe. Today it’s a still life of the main ingredients for the single-most important and non-negotiable food item to appear on tomorrow’s table (and it may be the only recipe I know by heart!).

All the cans and jars turned out to be a study in ellipses more than anything else. Even after examining Liz Steel’s helpful tutorial on how to draw ellipses (as they appear in tea cups), I still have trouble with them.

You may have guessed from my urban sketches that I hate doing lettering (as on signage, advertising, etc.) and generally avoid it. Since the eggs were the only ingredient that didn’t contain text, I could see that this still life would take a while if I struggled through all that lettering. Heck, I have a pie to bake! I decided to see how little lettering I could get away with and still evoke the products accurately. 

My plan is to sketch the remains of the finished product tomorrow, but in case it gets fully devoured, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!