Course Highlights


Contour Sketches

A descriptive contour sketch is an outline of the various components or shapes that combine to form a subject. The objective of this type of contour drawing is to achieve an exact correspondence between what the eye sees as it follows the edges of a form and the line that the hand draws to represent it.

The pencil should not leave the page and the line is to be continuous, not broken. When starting the contour of a smaller shape within the larger shape, refer to the drawing for your starting point, however at all other times, the goal is to keep your eyes on the subject as much as possible, while translating what you see to the paper blindly. Faulty proportions are the norm, however with practice, hand-eye coordination is improved and lines/shapes are more decisive.

Taking the descriptive contour sketch one step further, one can use modulated strokes to convey the way in which light interacts with the subject. Fine lines are drawn to suggest light while thick lines are used to describe shaded areas. If the thickness of the line is modulated sufficiently and the contour line itself rendered accurate, only minimal hatching would be required to take the contour sketch yet another step further for more visual appeal.

Other pages of interest

Quick studies
Sketch types
Contour sketches
Drawing the human body
Drawing hidden body parts

 

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