Unit 1 - Contour Line Note

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WHAT IS CONTOUR LINE? (copy what is in red) 

A contour line drawing describes the outermost edges of 
a form, and dramatic changes of plane 
or highlights within the form.  

 Characteristics 

  • no value (shading)  
  • a SOLID line (no sketching) 
  • is done SLOWLY
A contour drawing is done when the artist looks intently at the EDGES of an object, but rarely looks at the paper while the pencil moves.  The goal of contour drawing is to make a line that is authentic and true to what you are actually seeing, and to train your hand to copy your eye's movement.

 There are several different types of contour line drawings:

BLIND CONTOUR

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'Blind contour drawing' is when contour drawing is done without looking at the paper AT ALL.

This helps train you to look more often at your subject than look at your paper.  Staring down at your paper while drawing can be a hard habit to break~

CONTINUOUS LINE CONTOUR

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"Continuous line contour drawing' is a contour drawing done without picking your pencil off of the paper.  It is essentially done with one long line.  Continuous line contour drawings can be done 100% "blind" or not.

MODIFIED CONTOUR

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A "modified contour line drawing" allows you to look at your paper and pick up your pen, using multiple lines instead of one.

Although not completely blind, the artist should only look at the paper 10% of the time, and at the object 90% of the time.  The artist only looks at the paper to place their pencil when they start a new line.

Contour drawings use no shading, but lighter and darker tonal areas can be "suggested" by varying line width and pressure.  Darker, thicker lines can be used in shadow areas, and lighter, thinner lines in lighter areas.

CROSS-CONTOUR

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Cross contour lines are drawn lines which travel, as the name suggests, across the form. Cross contours follow the form of the surface area- using curved lines over curving or spherical planes, straight lines across flat surfaces, etc.

WHY DO THEM?

It is a classic drawing exercise to:
  • capture the edges and details that we often overlook. 
  • develop good hand-eye coordination which is key when learning to draw.  With regular practice, contour drawing exercises will help train your hand to follow your eye's movements.
  • develop the right brain (creative side!) muscles, help it become more assertive and aware of the observable.
  • balance the left brain's tendency to standardize, generalize, and simplify everything, which creates stereotypical ways of seeing and drawing.

HOW TO DO IT:

  • Look at the object!  While you draw, look at the object 90% of the time (100% of the time if doing a BLIND contour).  Look only at your paper when you are ready to make a new line on your paper and you are checking where to place it.  Concentrate on practicing your hand-eye coordination instead of worrying about the look of your drawing.
  • One continuous long line.  do not lift the marker off the paper unless you go off the edge of the paper and hit the table or come to an absolute dead end.  Whenever several lines meet, simple choose a direction and reconnect those lines later.
  • Go as slowly as a snail.  Draw slowly.  If it helps, close one eye while you draw.
  • Detail, detail, detail!  Capture edges only, but capture as much information as you can!  Capture every nook and cranny on paper. Each and every edge, crack, line, wrinkly, etc. that is possible to SEE.
  • Work as close to life size as your sketchbook or paper will allow.

Practice with the following (complete in sketchbook) 

Blind - hand   
Continuous -  your eye and nose  
Modified - object of your choice, your hand 

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