[Karin Wells]

I'm always surprised that in the minds of artists, drawing drapery is in a separate category from drawing anything else.

However, it is soooo easy to learn (and teach yourself) to do it. Simply crumple up or drape a piece of cloth in a slightly "artistic" manner and illuminate it with a single source of light. Either paint this from life or photograph it if you cannot leave the "set up" undisturbed for a while. In fact, using drapery as subject matter is a good way to sharpen both your drawing and your photographic skills.

I suggest that you learn to draw drapery before you paint it. Use soft vine charcoal only - no white.

Then do another study with a different type of cloth. Each fabric has its own characteristics: crisp cotton sheeting, soft heavy velvet, shiny slippery satin, etc.

I found that for study purposes white fabric makes it easier to observe the dance of light, halftone and shadow across the form.

I poked around my old studio storage rack and resurrected an old drapery study I'd done long ago that I never had the heart to toss out. I like to play with lettering and the "Nu Master's" school reference is a punny word because my teacher's name was Numael.

The following is a study of a linen napkin that I thumbtacked to a board.