Still Life in Pen and Ink

This still life drawing was the last mid-term project in my art class portfolio. I won't tell you how long it took to do but I am amazed with how a good teacher can bring out an artist in anyone. Most students used charcoal or pencil and the were really WONDERFUL but I really wanted to work with pen and ink. It's also the reason it took so long - each mark is permanent so I did quite a few practice runs. Because I missed this class I needed to create my own still life and this one is really special. Rollie and I have recently discovered this coffee maker tucked away in a cupboard and it is my very, very favorite way to make coffee: strong and very hot. Rollie eats an orange every morning and this was the hardest object to draw because I didn't realize that it required "perspective" and we haven't done that yet! The vase was a gift from France from my friend, Jean, and the geranium leaf is a cutting from plants given to me several years ago by my dear, late friend, Oren. So, it's a special still life for me. I just love drawing because I really have to take time to see.