Line Drawing Drawing Out a Plan

Last Updated on March 17, 2022

When we showtime picked up a pen or pencil and started making marks on paper, we began with line. Whether cocky-taught, through trial and error, or guided by others, we learned how line defines form, creates structure, divides a frame, traces contour, creates tonal variation (cross-hatching, for example) and leads the eye from 1 part of a piece of work to some other. Initially a mechanism for getting outlines onto paper – identifying edges – we brainstorm to applaud lines for their own merit: celebrate their presence…whether a quiet pic of charcoal on paper or a streak of graphite.

This article contains exercises for Art students who wish to produce contour line drawings, cross profile drawings, bullheaded drawings and other types of line drawings. It is a instruction aid for high school Art students and includes classroom activities, a free downloadable PDF worksheet and inspirational creative person drawings.

Blind Contour Cartoon

Definition: A blind contour drawing contains lines that are drawn without ever looking at the piece of paper. This forces you to study a scene closely, observing every shape and edge with your eyes, every bit your mitt mimics these on paper. The aim is not to produce a realistic artwork, but rather to strengthen the connection between eyes, mitt and brain: a reminder that, when drawing, you must first larn to see.

Blind Drawing Exercises: Blind cartoon is an excellent fashion to start a high schoolhouse Fine Fine art programme. Cartoon wobbly lines that bear lilliputian resemblance to the called object is relaxing and stress-free. Often, a classroom bubbles with laughter at the unexpected results. Blind drawing stretches the artillery and soul; eases you into observational drawing without fear.

A warm-upwardly activeness in which students were asked to create blind contour line drawings of shell (instruction exemplar past the Student Art Guide). These bullheaded drawings were included in the beginning preparatory sheets submitted by CIE IGCSE Art and Design students.

Gesture Drawing / Timed Cartoon / Movement Drawing

Definition: A gesture drawing is completed quickly – often in short timed durations, such as 20, 30, 60 or 90 seconds – using fast, expressive lines. Gesture drawings capture bones forms and proportions – the emotion and essence of a subject – without focusing on detail. Due to their rapid completion, they are a great mode to record move and activeness, as well as increment your drawing speed, confidence and intuitive mark-making skill. Gesture drawings are best completed with shine, easily applied mediums (chunky graphite pencils, charcoal sticks, pastels, soft brushes dipped in Indian ink, for example), without the use of an eraser. They are often completed on big, inexpensive sheets of paper, where y'all can move your arm fluidly, be bold with mark-making, and not worry about mistakes. As with blind drawings, gesture drawing is an ideal warm-up action.

Gesture Drawing Exercises: When you begin investigating your subject area matter in the initial phase of a high schoolhouse Art program, it tin can exist helpful to make several first-manus gestural drawings. The best of these can be selected for your final portfolio (taking reward of a photocopier or digital photographic camera to reduce in size, if necessary). A minor still life scene tin can be depicted just equally easily as a big moving grade.

A gesture drawing by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn:

This gestural drawing by Rembrandt is completed using red chalk on rough, textured newspaper. With only a few expressive lines, we instantly recognise the scene: two women instruction a child to walk.

A gestural figure drawing past Chelsea Stebar:

Completed while studying Animation, this gesture cartoon captures a clothed figure. Annotation the variation in line weight: light lines applied initially, with darker lines and hints of detail all that are needed.

Continuous Line Drawing

Definition: A continuous line cartoon is produced without ever lifting the drawing instrument from the page. This means that, in addition to outlines and internal shapes, the pencil must move dorsum and along across the surface of the paper, with lines doubling back on each other, so that the cartoon is i costless-flowing, unbroken line. To avert the temptation to erase lines, it can be helpful to consummate a continuous line drawing with an ink pen, varying the line weight, as needed, to indicate perspective and areas of light and shadow. Like the cartoon methods described above, this drawing method develops confidence and drawing speed, and encourages your eyes and hand and encephalon to work together. Continuous line drawings work best with in-depth ascertainment of your subject, without interference from your thinking mind. According to Smithsonian Studio Arts:

…continuous line drawing is actually a very powerful manner to create a piece that is both hard edged and fluid, representational and abstract, rational and emotional all in 1.

Continuous Line Drawing Exercises: This drawing method is swell for sketchbooks and cartoon from life. Information technology can be an splendid starter activeness, with drawings completed on large, cheap newspaper that can be scanned / edited / cropped and used in other ways within your projects.

An A Level Art sketchbook page past Lucy Feng from Hereford Sixth Form Higher, Herefordshire, UK:

This beautiful sketchbook page contains several continuous line drawings, drawn from first-hand ascertainment.

Contour drawing

Definition: A contour drawing shows the outlines, shapes and edges of a scene, but omits fine item, surface texture, color and tone ('profile' is French for 'outline'). According to Wikipedia:

The purpose of contour drawing is to emphasize the mass and volume of the subject rather than the item; the focus is on the outlined shape of the subject area and not the small details.

The illusion of three-dimensional form, space and altitude can be conveyed in a contour drawing through the use of varied line-weight (darker lines in the foreground / paler lines in the distance) and perspective.

Contour Drawing Exercises: Using line solitary eliminates the claiming of applying tone, colour and mediums; and instead focuses attending solely upon shape and proportion. After completing warm-up activities such as blind and gesture drawings, slower, more formal contour drawings can be an excellent mode to begin more realistic representations of your discipline affair. Used intermittently throughout projects, contour drawings can besides exist helpful for the student who needs to work faster.

A contour drawing by Ultima Thule:

Modern line drawings past Ultima Thule: there is a slick contrast in this drawing between the sharp black lines and the dripping dark-green. The application of colour to one surface area creates a dramatic focal indicate.

Cross profile cartoon

Definition: A cross profile cartoon contains parallel lines that run beyond the surface of an object (or radiate from a central point), such as those that appear on a topographical map or a digital wireframe. The lines can run at any appropriate angle (sometimes at multiple angles) and may continue across objects and into the groundwork. Cross profile drawings typically follow the rules of perspective, with lines drawn closer together in the distance and further apart in the foreground. In this type of drawing, the illusion of three-dimensional book is created entirely with line.

Cross Profile Cartoon Exercises: This is an excellent way to gain familiarity with the volumes and three-dimensional forms in your project, producing analytical cross contour drawings that are suitable for sketchbooks or early preparatory sheets.

Cross contour drawing of a shell by Matt Louscher:

This delicate cantankerous profile drawing helps to communicate the bumpy surface of the shell. Note how the shell pieces that are furthest away from the viewer are sparse and light, whereas those that are closest are darker and thicker. Notation besides how the direction of the contour lines relates to the shape of object that is fatigued, with lines projecting outwards from the middle of the shell.

Cantankerous contour hand drawings by (from left) Mathew Young, Ryan Acks and Lea Dallaglio while studying at the San Jose Country University, Section of Art and Fine art History:

Hands are a great bailiwick for a cross contour line drawing practise. Hands tin create interesting, circuitous, curving shapes, as in the examples above, and are readily available for first-hand observation. Notation how the density and weight of the line also helps to communicate areas of low-cal and shadow.

Cross contour drawings by Daniel Servin (left) and Alfred Manzano, completed while studying AP Studio Art at Mt Eden High Schoolhouse in Hayward, California, U.s.a.:

These cross profile drawings were completed as part of Latitude assignments for AP Studio Art. These drawings evidence clever use of line thickness, with the line-weight varying in club to create the illusion of tone and show three-dimensional form.

A wireframe contour cartoon exercise past Yr 9 educatee Seonmin Lee from ACG Parnell College, Auckland, New Zealand:

Contour lines can also be a great way for students to design three-dimensional forms. These drawings were completed as part of a papier mache sculpture project, with the profile lines representing the supporting pikestaff construction.

Planar assay cartoon

Definition: A planar analysis cartoon simplifies complex curved surfaces into flat planes, using straight lines. This process helps students to think about the underlying construction of objects and results in an analytical drawing, that is rather mechanical in advent.

Planar Assay Cartoon Activity: This can exist a keen introductory drawing exercise, peculiarly if yous are moving towards Cubism or abstracting scenes into geometric course.

A planar analysis portrait completed by a student of Cat Normoyle:

The symmetry and familiarity of the human face up makes portraiture a not bad field of study for planar analysis; the task of converting complex iii-dimensional class into flat surfaces. Annotation the conscientious attending given to the nose and lips in this instance.

Wire sculpture drawings

Definition: Wire can be cut and bent into shapes with pliers to create 3-dimensional 'drawings', ofttimes resulting in a work filled with flowing, curved lines. These wire sculptures can be attached to a 2-dimensional frame or a flat surface, hung in the air, or exist left costless-standing, irresolute in appearance every bit a viewer moves around the room. Due to their flexible nature, wire sculptures often move slightly in the wind, adding an extra interactive element to the work.

Wire Sculpture Line Drawing Exercise: This is an fantabulous activeness for middle school students and for loftier school students, if information technology relates specifically to your project (and does not interfere with postage stamp requirements, for those who demand to post work abroad for cess). Pocket-size wire experiments, using light-weight wire, can also exist mounted to sketchbook pages.

Wire sculptures completed by the students of Amy Bonner Oliveri from Allendale Columbia Schoolhouse, Rochester, New York, USA:

This wire cartoon exercise 'using line to create space' is completed by students within a 3D Art class, working over photographic portraits. Having a base image to work from (this could besides be an earlier observational drawing) makes the process of transferring from two-dimensional to three-dimensional much easier.

Hatching, cross hatching, and other line techniques

As well as representing contours, line can too exist used to utilize tone (lite and shadow) to a drawing. This can be done by altering the:

• Gap between the lines
• Lightness / darkness of the line
• Thickness of the line

In that location are many line techniques can be used to create tone, every bit illustrated in the worksheet below. Common techniques include:

• Small dashes
• Hatching (long, parallel lines on an bending)
• Cantankerous-hatching (parallel lines at correct angles)
• Stippling (dots)
• Scribbles
• Pocket-size crosses
• Modest circles

The angle that these techniques are applied may remain constant inside a drawing, or information technology may change in response to the bending and direction of the forms. For example, cantankerous-hatching may menstruation around the surface of an object in a similar management as cross profile lines. These techniques are also a not bad way to create the illusion of texture (see our article near observational drawings).

Line Techniques Worksheet: The worksheet below has been provided by the Pupil Art Guide for classroom use simply and may be issued freely to students (credited to studentartguide.com), likewise equally shared via the social media buttons at the bottom of this folio. It may not be published online or shared or distributed in any other mode, every bit per our terms and weather. The full size printable worksheet is available past clicking the PDF link below. This worksheet is suitable for centre school students, or senior students who have non had prior experience with line techniques.

This worksheet introduces a range of line drawing techniques and encourages students to invent their own (such every bit using the first letter of the alphabet of their proper name). It allows students to practise using these techniques and to apply tone to a range of simple geometric objects.

Click hither to open the total size worksheet as a printable PDF.

An Indian Ink still life drawing by Kirana Intraroon, completed while in Year x at ACG Strathallan College, Auckland, New Zealand:

In this ink drawing, a pocket-size grid experimenting with dissimilar line techniques has been included in the top left of the work. Some of these have been selected to apply tone to the piece of work, advisedly replicating reflection and shadow. This image was completed using a sharpened bamboo stick dipped in black ink.

An A* GCSE Fine art sketchbook folio by Samantha Li:

In this sketchbook page Samantha imitates and analyses a line cartoon by Vincent van Gogh, discussing the suitability and ceremoniousness of each technique. Note that when learning from artists, it is rarely necessary to slavishly copy an unabridged work; replicating modest pieces (as in this instance) is oft all that is needed.

A final GCSE Art piece past Hannah Armstrong:

This enormous pen drawing of a Baryonyx dinosaur measures i.2 10 2.one metres, and took over 70 hours to complete. It was the dramatic decision to a Yr 11 high school Art projection.

Artist line drawings

Here is a collection of line drawings from famous and less well known artists, to inspire high school Art students and teachers. This section is continually updated. Savor!

Pablo Picasso:

Line drawings by Picasso: a series of drawings showing the progression from realistic class to a few curving lines. Tone and detail accept been eliminated: the bull stripped back to its essence.

Andy Warhol:

Popular artist Andy Warhol is famous for his brightly coloured silkscreen artworks; all the same he was also a rampant drawer – often filling sketchbooks. He won many prizes for the drawings he produced in high school. The illustrations shown above – comprising of slightly smudged and blotchy blackness lines – have Warhol's typical off-beat style. They were completed using a bones printmaking technique: pressing sheets of paper into a wet ink drawing, transferring the paradigm to the 2nd sheet.

David Hockney:

Famous creative person David Hockey has produced many line drawings – oftentimes portraits. He draws in silence, with precision and care, moving a blackness ink pen beyond the paper quickly. This portrait – a snapshot into Hockney's life – is entitled 'Eugene and Henry'.

Vincent van Gogh:

Virtually famous for his postal service-impressionist paintings, Vincent van Gogh also produced over a chiliad drawings. In this pen and pencil line drawing, 'Cottages With a Woman Working in the Foreground', nosotros see the stylistic swirling of line in the copse and clouds that is and so characteristic of his well-known paintings. Capturing the swirling of the copse and the move of the clouds, van Gogh represents the calorie-free falling across the textured landscape with quick, confident mark-making.

Leonardo da Vinci:

These precise anatomical line drawings by famous artist Leonardo da Vinci show the internal structure of a human scalp, skull and eye. Facial proportions are advisedly mapped out and documented in the paradigm to the right; the drawings surrounded by annotation and enlarged details.

Aaron Earley:

Cross-profile line drawings past Aaron Earley: graphite lines of diverse weights trace over the contours of the face, clearly conveying emotion, despite the lack of tone and detail.

Peter Root:

Gimmicky line drawings by Peter Root: a series of straight graphite lines is used to create a curvaceous, flowing abstract form.

Maurizio Anzeri

Contemporary artwork by Maurizio Anzeri: a portrait overlaid past a mass of stitched radial lines, veiling the image within.

Tornwing:

Cantankerous contour line drawings by Tornwing: black lines of different thicknesses catamenia around three-dimensional forms. The strong contrast in this cartoon creates a striking graphic image.

Karolina Cummings:

Gestural line drawings by Karolina Cummings: dramatic and vivid, capturing form in rapidly scrawled, fluid line.

Daniel Mathers

Scribbled line drawings by Daniel Mathers: an explosion of insanity with a black pen.

Roz McQuillan:

Sensitive line drawings by Roz McQuillan: the contrast between the rendered siamese cat and the white true cat formed (formed from a few light lines) draws you in to this tranquility embrace.

Wang Tzu-Ting:

Pencil drawings by Wang Tzu-Ting: an overlapping sequence of drawings, using lines that approximate tonal boundaries, set on a running wash of acrylic. A stunning image.

Nina Smart:

Painterly line drawings by Nina Smart: what appears to be an abstract artwork of smudged and messy paint lines is, upon closer inspection, an accurate and well-proportioned equus caballus. This piece of work was created using a large pipette, cling wrap and a pallet knife.

Andy Mercer:

Expressive line drawings by Andy Mercer: this mixed media drawing contains a mass of lines that create the illusion of a busy city scene – a tangle of architectural class.

Vital Photography:

Line drawings by Vital Photography: this paradigm has been pared dorsum to its nearly basic – lines representing the edges of grade. Without any background to speak of, this collection of marks is enough to communicate a message with ease.

Doug Bell

Scribbled line drawings by Doug Bell: a portrait beautifully crafted from a tangle of lines.

Matthew Dunn:

Line drawings past Matthew Dunn: graphic in nature, this monkey appears to be hacked from a wooden board or lino cut. White scrawls on a black ground; open mouth with horror.

Rod McLaren:

Line drawings by Rod McLaren: I nearly didn't requite this drawing another glance – but for some reason I was transfixed by this black scribble, especially when I saw it was chosen 'underground train drawing'. At that place is wonder in it. And nothing. Endless swirls of nothing.

Andreas Fischer:

Line drawings past Andreas Fischer: the earth it turns: thick, colourful, globular painterly lines.

Nicholas Weltyk:

Blind line drawings by Nicholas Weltyk: a wobbly yet controlled continuous line defines form in this emotive drawing.

Swoon:

Street art by Swoon: a tightly woven mesh of newspaper cut lines.

Liliana Porter:

Experimental line drawings past Liliana Porter: perhaps this person is scrawling across the sky; perhaps they are property onto a mammoth scribble in the fashion one might concur onto a wild airship. Either manner, this drawing is typical of Liliana Porter's artworks. Fun, heady and cool.

Hong Chun Zhang:

Line drawings by Hong Chun Zhang: this huge hair drawing hangs downwardly the wall and drapes beyond the floor. Impressive in scale, this drawing is the ultimate depiction of long, tightly braided line.

Bruce Pollock:

Line drawings by Bruce Pollock: finely interlocking mesh of lines creates an intricate and mesmerising pattern.

David Eskenazi

Line drawings past David Eskenazi: the boundaries of infinite and all that is in between.

Matt Niebuhr:

Line drawings by Matt Niebuhr: a shimmer of tightly meshed smudged and erased graphite line.

Albrecht Durer:

Line drawings past Albrecht Durer: a walrus

Il Lee:

Line drawings by Il Lee: whoever knew the scribbling of a bluish biro pen could result in such magic.

Victoria Haven:

Geometric line drawings past Victoria Haven: conscientious, ordered lines of blue water colours (championship: 'all in all is true') create the illusion of architectural form; twisting, turning infinite.

Carne Griffiths:

Line drawings by Carne Griffiths: this piece of work is spun with lines…the fine pencil layer that teases out from beneath the colour; the jagged vertical drips that streak down towards the floor; the advisedly etched eyebrows and lashes and pilus.

William Anastasi:

Line drawings by William Anastasi: while blindfolded, Anastasi drew on a wall with graphite for an hr.

Charles Avery

Line drawings by Charles Avery: the illusory combining of hair with perspective lines vanishing towards a horizon make for a powerful image.

Did y'all enjoy this commodity? Y'all may wish to read xi Tips for Producing an Excellent Observational Cartoon.

Amiria has been an Fine art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the course design and cess of student work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Didactics. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Design Coursework Assessor.

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Source: https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/line-drawings-2

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