Plastic Realities – Charcoal Still Life
By: 
Community: OnChainArt
In this charcoal still life, I explore the visual and symbolic weight of objects we often overlook — plastic containers. From water bottles to detergent jugs, these items are familiar, functional, and frequently discarded. Yet when rendered in charcoal, they become solid, significant, and almost sculptural. The aim of Plastic Realities is to elevate the mundane — to make the viewer pause and consider what it means for something so disposable to suddenly feel permanent.
Technically, this was an exercise in form, proportion, light, and tonal control. I worked with compressed charcoal on cartridge paper, carefully layering shadows and highlights to bring each object into dimensional clarity. The arrangement of five containers — varying in transparency, shape, and utility — allowed for contrast in both texture and spatial rhythm. As the shading progressed, the negative space between the bottles began to carry as much meaning as the objects themselves.
Beyond realism, there’s a quiet commentary here. These containers reflect not only our daily habits but also the consequences of convenience. The drawing invites a second look at what we consume and cast aside. When a plastic bottle is drawn with the same attention as a human portrait, it forces us to confront how deeply entangled we are with materials that outlast us.
This piece fits within the OnChainArt community because it’s not just about visual accuracy — it’s about intention, process, and narrative. It’s a study of form, but also a meditation on presence. Through a slow and deliberate drawing process, I’ve turned temporary objects into lasting reflections.
