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What Is A Contour Line Drawing

Contour Lines in Art

A drawing done in only contour lines.
Photo: Toa Heftiba

There are some techniques that are then essential to art that yous may not even realize they have a name. Even the lines you make while doodling have a term for them; they are called contour lines , and they are the basis of all cartoon. To sketch an object, you typically use this type of line to ascertain a shape on paper, canvas, and beyond. Although contour lines help illuminate a form, in that location are a couple of important characteristics of them. The biggest is that at that place is no shading involved.

So, what are contour lines used for? This type of mark is a key of line art. Though simple, it is a powerful tool for expression. One line, or a series of them, can convey ideas and emotion. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci accept used contours in their sketches, while Henri Matisse employed the use of dark lines to outline his celebrating figures in The Dance.

Types of Contour Lines

Contour lines have seemingly infinite possibilities for making a creative statement. If y'all've ever taken an art class, it was probably i of the first things you drew. But did you know that there are different types of contour lines and exercises to try? Each type allows y'all to express a subject in a similar but unique mode.

See how the same object tin can be transformed through the apply of line.

Contour Lines in Art

How different tin one object expect? Find out below.
Photo: Sara Barnes / My Modern Met

Single Contour Lines with Varied Line Weight

Contour Lines in Art

Contour lines with varied line weight
Artwork & photo: Sara Barnes / My Modern Met

When you lot think of a contour line, this might be what you moving-picture show. Here, the hand statue is fatigued with single lines and no shading. Because of this, line variation is important in this blazon of contour line drawing; the thicker the line, the more visual accent is paid to information technology. And so, for elements of artwork that you would similar to accentuate, make the marks thick. This is ideal for conveying the weight of an object or parts that would typically be in shadow.

For this type of cartoon, information technology's helpful to use more than than ane utensil with a varying tip size (in pens) or a softness of graphite (pencils).

Cross Contour Lines

Contour Lines in Art

Cross contour lines
Artwork & photo: Sara Barnes / My Mod Met

Although in that location is no shading with contour lines, there is a substitute for it—cross profile lines. This mode of drawing uses lines to follow the form of the field of study and ascertain its characteristics and most importantly, its form. In doing so, a 3-dimensional portrait emerges that'southward similar to a topographical map. The closer together the lines, the darker an area volition announced. The more curved the lines, the more than rounded the subject looks.

Continuous Contour

Contour Lines in Art

Continuous contour
Artwork & photo: Sara Barnes / My Modernistic Met

Call up virtually how you lot create a typical line drawing; chances are that you choice up your pencil or pen from the paper endless times. With a continuous profile drawing, however, you lot'll never remove your utensil from the surface of your canvas until the entire drawing is consummate. The tip should e'er be touching the paper. As a result, a single line follows the form of your subject and creates a circuitous path that defines the big shapes and small details—and resembles one long string.

Blind Contour

Contour Lines in Art

Bullheaded profile
Artwork & photo: Sara Barnes / My Modern Met

If continuous contour drawing sounded challenging, creating a blind contour drawing will be even more daunting—just this fun activity will make you lot grinning at the results. The "blind" in blind contour comes from the fact that you will never await down at your paper while cartoon. Begin with your pen or pencil—nosotros recommend a pen so it won't smudge—on the page and so start at the lesser of the shape. As your eye slowly moves around the object, keep your cartoon utensil moving. Unlike continuous contour, you lot tin can pick upwards your pen, a fact that but adds to the amuse of this do by making things fifty-fifty more askew. When you lot're done, look downwards at your paper to run into how you captured (or didn't capture) the likeness of your subject.

Check out our recommendations for more cartoon games and cartoon challenges that will go your creative juices flowing.

Share your contour line drawings when you join our Fine art, Design, Photography, and Drawing Society on Facebook!

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Source: https://mymodernmet.com/contour-lines-in-art/

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