Weekly Exercise – Pleurotus ostreatus Study

Pleurotus ostreatus

This week, I focused on Pleurotus ostreatus, commonly known as the oyster mushroom. Working with black and white pencil on toned kraft paper, I aimed to capture the distinct architecture of this shelf fungus—its broad, fan-shaped caps and delicate, closely spaced gills. The kraft paper provided a natural mid-tone, allowing me to build form through both highlights and shadows, emphasizing the mushroom’s layered, organic structure.

The drawing is arranged in a vertical composition, echoing the natural growth pattern of Pleurotus ostreatus, which typically forms in descending clusters along decaying wood. I chose not to render the supporting substrate in detail, allowing the fungi to appear as if suspended in space—emphasizing their form, flow, and texture without distraction.

Using minimal tools helped me focus on tonal values and spatial relationships. I was especially drawn to the rhythm created by the overlapping caps and the slight variations in curvature, which give each mushroom its own quiet character. The process of illustrating this species required slow, attentive looking—particularly to understand how light traces the ridges of the gills and how the shadows define their subtle folds.

This exercise deepened my appreciation for Pleurotus ostreatus not only as a biological subject but as a sculptural form. There’s a quiet elegance in how this fungus both clings to and emerges from decay, reminding me of the beauty found in transitional, often overlooked places in nature.