Drawing Studio
Drawing-Skill Builders
Objectives
explore drawing tools and how different pencils created different shades.
deepen their understanding of how artists use drawing tools to create depth.
contemplate how artists’ place items in certain lighting to create the most appealing visual image.
Contour Line Drawing
WHAT IS CONTOUR LINE?
A contour is the line which defines a form or edge - an outline. Contour drawing is the place where most beginners start, following the visible edges of a shape. The contour describes the outermost edges of a form, as well as dramatic changes of plane within the form. Put simply, a contour line drawing is an "outline drawing," that uses no shading.
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.
BLIND CONTOUR
'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
"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.
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.
Gesture Drawing
Gesture Drawings-People
There are different goals to achieve with gesture drawing depending on what you are practicing. You can do quick sketches of 30-60 seconds with a goal of quickly capturing the mood. Or you can work much longer with an eye for realism as your technique grows and strengthens.
Quick sketches are loose with very few lines. Your goal is to just get something down on the page. At first it is gonna be bad. You will see growth quickly though!
Value Scale Drawing (Shading)
Value Scale-Skill Builder
Create a minimum of 6 shades value scale in your sketchbook.
Create a 6 shade value scale using the following 4 techniques hatching, stippling, cross-hatching and blended shading technique.
Value: the lightness or darkness of a color.
Value Scale: a range of values from dark to light.
Shading Techniques
Final Assignment
Object Drawing-Assignment
Pick 3-5 objects from your backpack or the classroom.
Photograph it to think about composition.
Start drawing the object using contour lines.
Draw the object at least 2x larger than life.
Make sure to include all 6 values in your final draft of the object.