In this lesson, instructor Cornelia Hernes will guide you through the foundational steps of creating a full-size painting. You will begin by establishing an imprimatura on your canvas, setting the tone for the entire artwork. Cornelia will introduce you to the essential tools for charcoal drawing and demonstrate their effective use. By analyzing her previous studies, she will help you discern which composition translates best to a larger scale. Delving into the sight-size drawing method, Cornelia will share techniques to ensure accuracy and proportion in your artwork. By the end of this lesson, you will have confidently established the block-in on your canvas using charcoal.

This lesson belongs to the course, Introduction to Still-life Painting II. In this 15-week course, immerse yourself in the intricate world of still-life painting with a focus on observational techniques and composition. Guided by the expert hand of Cornelia Hernes, you’ll delve deep into the art of capturing still-life in its most vivid form. Starting with the basics of composition setup and brainstorming, Cornelia will introduce you to the nuances of color theory, the importance of lighting, and the role of texture in bringing objects to life. You’ll explore the significance of each element in a composition, learning to give each its due importance. The course will also cover advanced techniques like imprimatura, sight-size drawing methods, and the art of capturing transparency in objects like glass bottles. Cornelia’s hands-on approach ensures that by the end of the course, you’ll not only have a deep understanding of still-life painting but also the skills to create pieces that resonate with realism and depth. This course is a continuation of Tina Orsolic’s “Introduction to Still-Life Painting I,” which can be found here. While it’s not mandatory to complete Course I, doing so will provide you with a stronger foundational understanding of this companion course.

Throughout this course, you’ll have access to the NMA community for feedback and critiques to improve your work as you progress.