Practical Guidelines Nature Study
(Secondary Level)
Notes 3
NATURE STUDY
AIM
To be able to capture the essence of Nature which is ever changing, in terms of
light, shade and colour.
INTRODUCTION
Nature study consists primarily of trees, flowers, foliage, mountains, rivers, sea,
etc. While doing nature studies we must understand the basic difference between
object drawing and nature. Nature is ever changing and full of life. So it is neces-
sary to capture this essence of nature according to ones perception. It is very
important to keep in mind the perspective, balance, composition, harmony and
colour, which are to be used according to ones desired study.
OBJECTIVE
On completion of this practical lesson, you will be able to:
! differentiate between the man made objects (still) and nature (life);
! identify oneself with nature and its surroundings;
! distinguish colour texture, forms of natural things;
! draw and paint landscapes with correct colour, perspective and natural light.
Study the Nature
Start with small natural objects like fruits, vegetables, foliage and flowers
STEP: I
Place two apples in front of you. Draw the outlines.
18 PAINTING
Nature Study Practical Guidelines
(Secondary Level)
Notes
Fig No.1
STEP: II
Colour it with thick poster colour. Use crimson, Lemon yellow and green colour.
Fig No.2
! Select some common vegetables (cabbage, brinjal, bitter gourd etc.) and draw
in pencil, (use 2B or 4B pencil).
Fig. No. 3 Fig. No. 4
PAINTING 19
Practical Guidelines Nature Study
(Secondary Level)
! Choose one vegetable (like Shalgam) turnip. Draw with HB pencil and then
use black water colour with brush No.8
Notes
Fig No.5
! Now take few vegetables of same kind (as capsicum here). Arrange it prop-
erly. Use coloured pencils. (Viridian green, sap green, and chrome yellow pencils
are used).
Fig. No. 6
! Try the same composition in different medium. Poster colour is a good option.
(Poster green, chrome yellow and white colours are used).
Fig. No. 7
20 PAINTING
Nature Study Practical Guidelines
(Secondary Level)
! Select different kinds of vegetables like Red chili, Cauliflower, Karela (Bitter
gourd) Draw outlines with black water proof ink pen. Then use coloured ink
or water colour.
Notes
Fig No.8 Fig No.9 Fig No. 10
! Try your hand in transparent water colour. Arrange some onions. Draw with
HB pencil. Use crimson and burnt Sienna adding lot of water in colour. Re-
strict yourself to use only one layer of colour.
Fig. No. 11
Take a bunch of flowers. Make a study of these flowers with HB pencil.
Draw the outline of the flower.
STEP:I
Fig No. 12
PAINTING 21
Practical Guidelines Nature Study
(Secondary Level)
! Paint the background with
Notes contrasting colours and the
f1ower with yellow colours. In
this painting the background is
of red and blue poster colours.
STEP : II
Fig No. 13
Now paint the flowers. Use
chrome yellow, yellow ochre
for the flowers. Dark green
and light green (mixing white
and lemon yellow) for the
stems.
STEP: III
Fig No. 14
! Paint flowers in transparent water colour.
Do not use details, give only suggestion of
forms.
Fig No. 15
22 PAINTING
Nature Study Practical Guidelines
(Secondary Level)
! Study a plant with pen and ink.
Draw the compositional structure
Notes
with HB pencil and finish with
pen. Be careful when you draw
the leaves in the back ground and
foreground, these should not
overlap each other.
Fig No. 16
! You can try oil
colour on canvas
for the composi-
tion of flowers
and plants. You
can add few
other elements to
enhance the
beauty of the
picture.
Fig No. 17
! Trees have different
characteristics.
Trees also play a
very important role
in landscapes. Try
to capture the tex-
ture, rhythm and
character of these
trees in yours
sketch. You can use
pen, pencil, crayon
and pastel. This is
done in black pen
with hatching. Fig No. 18
PAINTING 23
Practical Guidelines Nature Study
(Secondary Level)
! Study trees with transparent water colour. Make it very simple. Avoid detail-
ing. Use limited colours. Only blue, lemon yellow and brown colours are used
in this picture.
Notes
Fig No. 19
! Landscape painting should be done on the spot. Choose a location. It is not
necessary to travel far to find one. You can select any spot you like. Sea beach
is very attractive and pictorial. Begin with sketch with pencil. HB and 2B pen-
cils are used here.
Fig No. 20
! Try your hand in acrylic colour, Unlike oil colour it dries quickly. You can use
Fevicryl (these are inexpensive) on oil paper. Use the same drawing as in figure
20.
Fig No. 2l
24 PAINTING
Nature Study Practical Guidelines
(Secondary Level)
! You can do the same composition in oil colour on canvas or oil paper.
STEP: I
Draw only the outlines of your sketch on oil paper or canvas
Notes
Fig No. 22
STEP: II
Fill the drawn areas with dark colours. The oil colours are different from
water colour. Begin with dark colours in shadowed areas then move to lighter
tones.
Fig No. 23
! Put lighter tone for detailing. The hill, boats, bushes, steps and building have
many shadowed areas.
STEP: III
Fig No. 24
PAINTING 25
Practical Guidelines Nature Study
(Secondary Level)
! Finish the painting with white and other very light colours
STEP IV
Notes
Fig No. 25
Exercises:
1. Arrange few bananas on a table and draw these with pencil.
2. Find a pot of plants with large leaves. After finishing drawing, colour it with
poster colours.
3. Visit a nearby park. Choose a row of big trees. Draw these trees. Take care
of perspective. Now use water colours.
4. Take a photograph of hill station or sea beach. Try to copy it with pencil.
Choose any medium of colour and paint it.
26 PAINTING
Nature Study Practical Guidelines
(Secondary Level)
Notes
Light House (Water colour)
by Homer
Three Half timbered Houses
by Ruisedael
PAINTING 27