What Can You Make by Joining Lines Together What Can You Make Using Correct Proportions in Art

Last Updated on March 17, 2022

When we starting time picked up a pen or pencil and started making marks on newspaper, we began with line. Whether self-taught, through trial and fault, 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 centre from one part of a work to another. Initially a mechanism for getting outlines onto paper – identifying edges – we begin to applaud lines for their own merit: celebrate their presence…whether a quiet flick of charcoal on paper or a streak of graphite.

This article contains exercises for Fine art students who wish to produce profile line drawings, cross contour drawings, blind drawings and other types of line drawings. Information technology is a instruction aid for loftier school Art students and includes classroom activities, a complimentary downloadable PDF worksheet and inspirational creative person drawings.

Blind Contour Drawing

Definition: A bullheaded contour drawing contains lines that are drawn without always looking at the slice of newspaper. This forces you to study a scene closely, observing every shape and border with your eyes, equally your hand mimics these on paper. The aim is not to produce a realistic artwork, but rather to strengthen the connection between eyes, hand and encephalon: a reminder that, when drawing, y'all must first larn to run into.

Blind Cartoon Exercises: Bullheaded drawing is an splendid way to showtime a high school Fine Art programme. Drawing wobbly lines that bear little resemblance to the chosen object is relaxing and stress-free. Oftentimes, a classroom bubbles with laughter at the unexpected results. Bullheaded cartoon stretches the artillery and soul; eases you into observational drawing without fright.

A warm-up action in which students were asked to create blind profile line drawings of crush (teaching exemplar by the Student Art Guide). These blind drawings were included in the first preparatory sheets submitted by CIE IGCSE Art and Design students.

Gesture Cartoon / Timed Drawing / Movement Cartoon

Definition: A gesture drawing is completed apace – often in short timed durations, such as xx, 30, 60 or xc seconds – using fast, expressive lines. Gesture drawings capture basic forms and proportions – the emotion and essence of a subject area – without focusing on particular. Due to their rapid completion, they are a great manner to record movement and action, as well as increment your drawing speed, confidence and intuitive marking-making skill. Gesture drawings are best completed with smooth, easily applied mediums (chunky graphite pencils, charcoal sticks, pastels, soft brushes dipped in Indian ink, for case), without the use of an eraser. They are often completed on big, inexpensive sheets of newspaper, where you tin move your arm fluidly, be assuming with marking-making, and non worry nigh mistakes. Every bit with bullheaded drawings, gesture drawing is an platonic warm-up activity.

Gesture Drawing Exercises: When you brainstorm investigating your subject field affair in the initial phase of a loftier school Art plan, information technology can exist helpful to make several start-hand gestural drawings. The best of these can exist selected for your final portfolio (taking advantage of a photocopier or digital camera to reduce in size, if necessary). A small-scale yet life scene can be depicted just as easily as a big moving form.

A gesture drawing past Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn:

This gestural cartoon by Rembrandt is completed using scarlet chalk on rough, textured paper. With but a few expressive lines, we instantly recognise the scene: ii women education a child to walk.

A gestural figure cartoon by Chelsea Stebar:

Completed while studying Animation, this gesture drawing captures a clothed effigy. Note the variation in line weight: light lines applied initially, with darker lines and hints of item all that are needed.

Continuous Line Drawing

Definition: A continuous line cartoon is produced without ever lifting the cartoon instrument from the page. This ways that, in addition to outlines and internal shapes, the pencil must move back and forth across the surface of the paper, with lines doubling back on each other, so that the cartoon is one free-flowing, unbroken line. To avoid the temptation to erase lines, it tin can exist helpful to complete a continuous line drawing with an ink pen, varying the line weight, as needed, to signal perspective and areas of light and shadow. Like the cartoon methods described in a higher place, this drawing method develops conviction and drawing speed, and encourages your eyes and hand and brain to piece of work together. Continuous line drawings work all-time with in-depth observation of your subject, without interference from your thinking mind. According to Smithsonian Studio Arts:

…continuous line drawing is actually a very powerful way 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 great for sketchbooks and cartoon from life. It tin can exist an first-class starter activity, with drawings completed on big, inexpensive paper that tin can be scanned / edited / cropped and used in other ways within your projects.

An A Level Art sketchbook page by Lucy Feng from Hereford 6th Form Higher, Herefordshire, UK:

This beautiful sketchbook folio contains several continuous line drawings, drawn from get-go-mitt observation.

Profile drawing

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

The purpose of contour cartoon is to emphasize the mass and volume of the subject rather than the detail; the focus is on the outlined shape of the subject and not the minor details.

The illusion of iii-dimensional form, space and distance can exist 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 alone eliminates the challenge of applying tone, color and mediums; and instead focuses attention solely upon shape and proportion. After completing warm-upwards activities such as blind and gesture drawings, slower, more than formal contour drawings can be an fantabulous manner to begin more realistic representations of your subject thing. Used intermittently throughout projects, contour drawings tin also exist helpful for the student who needs to piece of work faster.

A profile drawing past Ultima Thule:

Modern line drawings by Ultima Thule: there is a slick dissimilarity in this drawing between the abrupt blackness lines and the dripping dark-green. The application of colour to ane area creates a dramatic focal indicate.

Cross profile cartoon

Definition: A cantankerous contour cartoon contains parallel lines that run across the surface of an object (or radiate from a central point), such every bit those that appear on a topographical map or a digital wireframe. The lines can run at whatever appropriate angle (sometimes at multiple angles) and may continue across objects and into the background. Cantankerous profile drawings typically follow the rules of perspective, with lines drawn closer together in the distance and further autonomously in the foreground. In this type of drawing, the illusion of iii-dimensional volume is created entirely with line.

Cross Contour Drawing Exercises: This is an first-class fashion 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 on preparatory sheets.

Cantankerous profile drawing of a beat out by Matt Louscher:

This delicate cross contour cartoon helps to communicate the bumpy surface of the shell. Note how the shell pieces that are furthest abroad from the viewer are thin 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 drawn, with lines projecting outwards from the centre of the shell.

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

Hands are a great subject field for a cross contour line drawing do. Easily can create interesting, complex, curving shapes, every bit in the examples higher up, and are readily available for first-hand observation. Note how the density and weight of the line also helps to communicate areas of light and shadow.

Cross contour drawings by Daniel Servin (left) and Alfred Manzano, completed while studying AP Studio Art at Mt Eden High School in Hayward, California, USA:

These cross profile drawings were completed as part of Breadth assignments for AP Studio Art. These drawings prove clever utilise of line thickness, with the line-weight varying in order to create the illusion of tone and show iii-dimensional class.

A wireframe contour cartoon exercise by Year 9 student Seonmin Lee from ACG Parnell College, Auckland, New Zealand:

Contour lines can besides exist a great mode for students to design 3-dimensional forms. These drawings were completed equally part of a papier mache sculpture project, with the contour lines representing the supporting cane construction.

Planar assay cartoon

Definition: A planar analysis drawing simplifies complex curved surfaces into flat planes, using directly lines. This procedure helps students to call back about the underlying structure of objects and results in an belittling cartoon, that is rather mechanical in appearance.

Planar Assay Drawing Action: This can exist a great introductory drawing exercise, specially if y'all are moving towards Cubism or abstracting scenes into geometric grade.

A planar analysis portrait completed past a student of True cat Normoyle:

The symmetry and familiarity of the human face up makes portraiture a great subject for planar analysis; the job of converting complex 3-dimensional form into apartment surfaces. Note the careful attention given to the nose and lips in this example.

Wire sculpture drawings

Definition: Wire tin can be cutting and bent into shapes with pliers to create three-dimensional 'drawings', ofttimes resulting in a work filled with flowing, curved lines. These wire sculptures can be fastened to a ii-dimensional frame or a flat surface, hung in the air, or be left complimentary-standing, irresolute in appearance as a viewer moves around the room. Due to their flexible nature, wire sculptures oftentimes movement slightly in the wind, adding an extra interactive chemical element to the work.

Wire Sculpture Line Cartoon Exercise: This is an excellent activity for middle schoolhouse students and for high school students, if information technology relates specifically to your project (and does not interfere with postage stamp requirements, for those who need to post work abroad for cess). Small wire experiments, using light-weight wire, can also be mounted to sketchbook pages.

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

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

Hatching, cross hatching, and other line techniques

Besides as representing contours, line can also be used to apply tone (light and shadow) to a drawing. This can be done by altering the:

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

There are many line techniques can be used to create tone, as illustrated in the worksheet below. Mutual techniques include:

• Small dashes
• Hatching (long, parallel lines on an angle)
• Cross-hatching (parallel lines at right angles)
• Stippling (dots)
• Scribbles
• Small crosses
• Small circles

The angle that these techniques are practical may remain constant within a drawing, or it may change in response to the angle and management of the forms. For instance, cross-hatching may flow effectually the surface of an object in a similar management equally cross contour lines. These techniques are also a dandy mode to create the illusion of texture (come across our commodity about observational drawings).

Line Techniques Worksheet: The worksheet below has been provided by the Student Art Guide for classroom use only and may exist issued freely to students (credited to studentartguide.com), also as shared via the social media buttons at the lesser of this page. It may not be published online or shared or distributed in any other mode, as per our terms and conditions. The full size printable worksheet is available by clicking the PDF link beneath. This worksheet is suitable for middle schoolhouse students, or senior students who have not had prior experience with line techniques.

This worksheet introduces a range of line drawing techniques and encourages students to invent their own (such as using the kickoff alphabetic character of their name). It allows students to practice using these techniques and to employ tone to a range of simple geometric objects.

Click here to open the full size worksheet every bit 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 small grid experimenting with unlike line techniques has been included in the top left of the piece of work. Some of these have been selected to apply tone to the work, carefully replicating reflection and shadow. This prototype was completed using a sharpened bamboo stick dipped in black ink.

An A* GCSE Fine art sketchbook page past Samantha Li:

In this sketchbook page Samantha imitates and analyses a line cartoon by Vincent van Gogh, discussing the suitability and appropriateness of each technique. Notation that when learning from artists, it is rarely necessary to slavishly re-create an entire work; replicating small-scale pieces (as in this example) is frequently all that is needed.

A terminal GCSE Art piece by Hannah Armstrong:

This enormous pen drawing of a Baryonyx dinosaur measures 1.two x 2.1 metres, and took over 70 hours to complete. It was the dramatic determination to a Twelvemonth 11 high schoolhouse Art project.

Artist line drawings

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

Pablo Picasso:

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

Andy Warhol:

Popular creative person Andy Warhol is famous for his brightly coloured silkscreen artworks; however 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 black lines – have Warhol'due south typical off-beat style. They were completed using a basic printmaking technique: pressing sheets of paper into a moisture ink cartoon, transferring the paradigm to the second sheet.

David Hockney:

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

Vincent van Gogh:

Near famous for his post-impressionist paintings, Vincent van Gogh as well produced over a one thousand drawings. In this pen and pencil line drawing, 'Cottages With a Woman Working in the Foreground', we see the stylistic swirling of line in the trees and clouds that is so characteristic of his well-known paintings. Capturing the swirling of the trees and the movement of the clouds, van Gogh represents the light falling across the textured landscape with quick, confident marker-making.

Leonardo da Vinci:

These precise anatomical line drawings by famous artist Leonardo da Vinci prove the internal structure of a human scalp, skull and center. Facial proportions are carefully mapped out and documented in the prototype to the correct; the drawings surrounded past annotation and enlarged details.

Aaron Earley:

Cantankerous-contour line drawings by Aaron Earley: graphite lines of various weights trace over the contours of the face, clearly carrying emotion, despite the lack of tone and detail.

Peter Root:

Contemporary line drawings by Peter Root: a series of direct graphite lines is used to create a curvaceous, flowing abstract course.

Maurizio Anzeri

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

Tornwing:

Cross contour line drawings by Tornwing: black lines of different thicknesses flow around three-dimensional forms. The potent contrast in this drawing creates a hit graphic prototype.

Karolina Cummings:

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

Daniel Mathers

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

Roz McQuillan:

Sensitive line drawings past Roz McQuillan: the contrast between the rendered siamese cat and the white cat formed (formed from a few calorie-free lines) draws you lot in to this tranquility cover.

Wang Tzu-Ting:

Pencil drawings by Wang Tzu-Ting: an overlapping sequence of drawings, using lines that approximate tonal boundaries, attack 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 horse. This 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 form.

Vital Photography:

Line drawings past Vital Photography: this image has been pared back to its well-nigh bones – lines representing the edges of grade. Without any background to speak of, this drove of marks is enough to communicate a message with ease.

Doug Bell

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

Matthew Dunn:

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

Rod McLaren:

Line drawings past Rod McLaren: I virtually didn't give this drawing another glance – but for some reason I was transfixed by this black scribble, especially when I saw it was called 'cloak-and-dagger train drawing'. In that location is wonder in it. And nothing. Countless swirls of nothing.

Andreas Fischer:

Line drawings by Andreas Fischer: the world it turns: thick, colourful, globular painterly lines.

Nicholas Weltyk:

Blind line drawings past 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 cutting lines.

Liliana Porter:

Experimental line drawings by Liliana Porter: perhaps this person is scrawling across the sky; perhaps they are property onto a mammoth scribble in the manner one might hold onto a wild balloon. Either style, this drawing is typical of Liliana Porter's artworks. Fun, exciting and cool.

Hong Chun Zhang:

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

Bruce Pollock:

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

David Eskenazi

Line drawings by David Eskenazi: the boundaries of space 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 blue biro pen could result in such magic.

Victoria Oasis:

Geometric line drawings by Victoria Haven: conscientious, ordered lines of bluish h2o colours (title: 'all in all is true') create the illusion of architectural course; twisting, turning space.

Carne Griffiths:

Line drawings past Carne Griffiths: this work is spun with lines…the fine pencil layer that teases out from below the colour; the jagged vertical drips that streak downward towards the floor; the advisedly etched eyebrows and lashes and hair.

William Anastasi:

Line drawings by William Anastasi: while blindfolded, Anastasi drew on a wall with graphite for an 60 minutes.

Charles Avery

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

Did you savour this article? Y'all may wish to read eleven Tips for Producing an Excellent Observational Drawing.

Amiria has been an Art & Blueprint teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for 7 years, responsible for the course pattern and assessment of pupil work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Compages (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Education. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Design Coursework Assessor.

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