Course Highlights


Contour Lines

Contour lines are a way to incorporate thought into a piece. There are two styles of contour lines. The closed approach recreates the visible reality with solid contour lines, plain and clear, leaving no room for improvisation and subjectivity. Below is a sketch using the closed approach to contour lines.

In comparison, the open approach is characterized by a near absence of lines in certain areas, offering suggestion but allowing the viewer to use their imagination to complete it by establishing where the figure ends and the background begins. This technique of softening or eliminating margins and omitting details is quite effective at sparking interest in the spectator. Below is a sketch using the open approach to contour lines.

Other pages of interest

Expressive sketching
Contour lines
Drawing reflections
Creating depth
Contrast

 

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