Sample+2.+Tea+time+tradition

Studio Work #2  **"Tea time tradition"** **Media:** Pencil on Paper (observational drawing), **Size:** 42 x 30 cm, **Month of completion:** November 2009



**Description:** This drawing is a final drawing in a series of observational drawings of a Japanese tea pot. I was interested in Japan as a possible subject for my studio work and wished to create traditional drawings from observation of objects that represented Japan or had connections to Japan. The tea ceremony is an important aspect of Japanese culture and something that I could create observational drawings of (due to restrictions in real life subject matter, I did not have photographs of Japan as I have never been there and this was the only object I had available to me).

**Analysis:** **What were the artistic and/or cultural influences for this project?** **Who/what influenced either the composition and/or the style.** As my subject matter in this drawing is a Japanese teapot you could say that I have been influenced by Japanese culture, however the drawing itself is not representative of Japanese culture. I have not looked at artist models and do not feel that I meet the criteria for either the artistic or cultural influence in this piece. I focused solely on creating an observational drawing and should have included artistic and cultural influences.

**What materials/media/processes did you use and or experiment with, and how?** I experimented with a range of traditional drawing materials,such as pencil, charcoal, colored pencil, Indian ink and some watercolor (seen in small photogaph of the sereis of drawings). I used a range of drawing materials to experiment with as I practised observational drawing skills. I experimented with different types of shading in dry media and with washes (in varying tones) in wet media.

**How do you think you have responded to advice and criticism during this project (and during the term), both from fellow students and the teacher. Did you seek any? If so, was it useful?** When drawing this series of observational drawings I did not really seek advice, other than when I was struggling to accurately represent a part of the object. Looking back at the drawings now I realised I should have asked more people which they thought were more successful in terms of the media as I selected the 'best' drawing in terms of the accuracy but perhaps could have asked for advice on which media was the most effective.

**Clearly explain the weaknesses/areas for improvement -** I think a weaknesses in the series of drawings was trying to draw the top of the pot - any ellipses I had difficulty with. I was drawing circles and they did not look accurate as I had a hard time drawing things in perspective. This was was difficult because have not done many observational drawings before. I practised many times and you can see that I improve on this. Another weakness I see when I look at all the drawings together is that I have focused on the object only, All pictures have no background and only some have cast shadow.

**Clearly explain the strengths of the piece –** I think that the final drawing is quite realistic and the small are of color on the floweres is a strength because it is a contrast that shows emphasis. The emphasis of the flowers (through color) adds focus and interest in what could otherwise be a quite plain drawing.

**What could you take through to the next project and develop further? This could be anything, from a technique to an idea, not neccesarily just the theme.** I would like to continue with observational drawings as I wish to practise my drawing skills but am not sure whether I would continue with this object. Or I could add more objects in (if I am able to find objects that relate to Japan). I think a series of drawings, perhaps many, could be interesting, perhaps many different drawings of differnt objects. I will need to research artists as well as find more objects.