![]() ![]() As you draw, focus on the outline of the object and try not to take your pencil off the paper. Start by drawing a simple object like a cup or vase. ![]() Try to draw the full form of the subject, without breaking the line. The lead of the pencil should remain in contact with the paper until the outline is completed. ![]() Continuous line drawingĪ continuous line drawing is a drawing completed in one sitting without taking the pen or pencil off of the paper. This is an enjoyable drawing exercise that highlights the volume and mass of a subject and how this affects the way light and shadows appear. Lines are drawn within the outline and can be drawn closer together or further apart to represent light and shadow.ĭepending on the form of the subject, the lines will appear differently, for example, use straight lines to represent a flat surface like a table, and meandering lines to show the curvature of a plane. ![]() Cross contour drawingĪ cross contour drawing is a contour, or outline drawing that conveys the volume of the surface with curved or straight lines spanning across the form. However, it’s a fun exercise that can make you pay attention to skills that you may be struggling with, or that may be holding you back in other areas of your art practice. This exercise can feel hard and the finished results may be completely unexpected if you’ve never tried this drawing method before. Make sure not to look at the paper, or take your eyes away from the reference. To do a blind contour drawing, look at your reference and outline the visible shapes. This exercise forces the artist to study their reference and improves hand eye coordination. Blind contour drawingĪ blind contour drawing is a contour drawing that is completed without looking at the paper. However, by practising drawing the outlines of different subjects, you can naturally improve the most fundamental and arguably difficult drawing skill, which is rendering realistic proportions. Many artists rely on transferring a drawing onto the canvas of their final artwork, or using a grid to achieve accurate proportions. Try and be accurate with your portrayal of the subject, if you make a mistake, erase it or start a fresh.Ĭreating contour drawings can provide a foundation for larger pieces, more detailed works and paintings. Grab a pencil, or pen and observe and outline the main elements in your reference. A contour drawing exercise can improve skills in drawing accurate proportions, form and structure in artworks, freehand without aids. The focus is on the visible edges of the subject’s shape. Contour drawingĬontour drawing is where the artist draws only the outline of the subject or scene, without shading any values. Here are 10 drawing exercises to get you stretching those sketching muscles. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best drawing exercises to improve your skills. The aim is to get better at drawing, and that can only be done by practising regularly and putting in the hard work. More details about this method can be found in a book by Kimon Nicolaides, A Natural Way to Draw.One of the most important things to remember when doing any of these drawing exercises is to focus on the process, not the end result. The easiest to start with is yourself in a mirror. All you need is a pencil, paper, and a subject. It is, for me, a kind of spiritual exercise. It also draws my attention to how we can perceive some of the complex life of a person even through outer appearance. It reminds me that the visual nature of the person is not just about ‘looking good,’ and that the success of a drawing is not in its photographic likeness. When I do this while drawing a person, it connects me with the interior feelings of the person. I was first exposed to this method in a studio drawing class in college and found it marvelous. You look at the subject, not the paper, and feel your way around and within your subject, as you draw with your pen or pencil. In it, you try not to look at your paper at all, and not lift your pen, while you draw. One of my favorite ways of sketching is to do blind, or semi-blind, contour drawing. ![]()
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