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You will probably never get a teacher to teach you properly how to do value if your not in a classical academy that just the sad reality of art now a day.That why you probably struggling to see any progress when it come to turning your drawing into something that as volume and proper light and shadow.You probably will learn way more by going to drawabox.com than you will in your university class.Specially if you have to go throught art history and all this.
Yea so like i say try your skill at drawabox.com it might seem like cake when you look at it but don't be fool by the first impression you will get look at the exercise.
I encourage you to go there and do the exercise they suggested.It as been suggested by many people before me and i even did it myself so yeah highly recommended.
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The value on your shadow are much stronger by a good amount than on the original picture and you can adjust the exposure of your camera to match the eye so no excuse.Concerning the background i don't think it important that much in this study in particular but atleast putting a grey base will prevent the white paper natural tone from flatning the image.
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Hey Algae, nice studies work. I like the structure on these folds and how your line drawings are super clean.
I struggles with the same issues you are describing (values, rendering) , so I'm not sure I can say anything valuable, but I think you're on a good track with still life drawing. Its commonly said that life drawing / painting teachs the most, and the few times I did it, I actually felt like it was true.
For rendering, I suggest trying coloured paper, white chalk and black pencil for your pencil rendering, so you already have your midtones and only need to add hightlight and shadow. I find it easier, but its may be only me.
My 2 cent for your rendered drawing since you were wondering what to do : Since nature is usually full of soft edge, I would blend background and texture in shadow area. Also maybe add a cast shadow for composition purpose, on the wall behind it.