Gesture and Contour

1.  Line Gesture

• Use Carbon Pencil
• Continuous lines without loosing contact with paper
• Describing the subjects location and relationships between the forms
• Capture idea and movement

2.  Mass Gesture

• Use Charcoal
• pressure of drawing tool is important
• emphasis on the negative space
• line and line weight
• foreground, middle and background

3.  Scribbled Line Gesture

• Use Carbon Pencil or Pen
• drawing tool remains in constant contact
• line – tight and broad sweeping motion
• negative space

4.  Sustained Gesture

• Use Charcoal or Carbon Pencil
• start with scribbled, and then make corrections
• Non-verbal communication

• Stand while drawing.
• Use paper at least eighteen by twenty-four.
• Use the Material specified for each.
• Use large arm movements
• Scan the subject in its entirety before beginning to draw.
• Be aware that the hand duplicated the motion of the eye.
• Keep your drawing tool in contact with the paper throughout the drawing.
• Keep your eye on the subject being drawn, only occasionally referring to your paper.
• Avoid Outlines.  Draw through the forms.
• Vary the place on the paper where you  begin the drawing- top bottom, edges, center.

1.  Continuous Line Drawing

• Use Carbon Pencil or Pen
• unbroken from beginning to the end

• Use an implement that permits a free-flowing line.
• Use and unbroken line for the entire drawing.
• Keep your drawing implement constantly in contact with the paper
• Draw through the forms as if they were transparent
• Describe both outside edges and internal shapes
• Fill the entire surface of your paper, encompassing positive and negative shapes.
• Vary the weight of the line.
• Use continuous, overlapping lines

2.  Organizational Line Drawings (1 drawing)

• Use Carbon Pencil or Charcoal
• transparent, cut through forms, very sculptural

• Begin with multiply stated horizontal and vertical lines, both actual and implied, add diagonal lines last.
• Establish relative heights and widths of all objects and background shapes.
• Allow lined to penetrate through objects, establishing relationships between objects.
• Correct basic shapes
• Check and correct proportion and relative heights and widths of your subject.
• Extend lines through objects and into negative space.
• When you have established accurately observed proportions, darken some of the forms, emphasizing their exact shapes.

3.  Blind Contour Drawing

• Use Carbon Pencil or Pen

Guidelines

• If you have a peaking problem attach a sheet of paper to the top.
• Keep your eyes on the subject.
• Imagine that your drawing took is in actual contact with the subject.
• Keep eyes and hand coordinated.  Do not make meaningless lines.
• Do not retrace over already stated lines.
• Do not erase for correction.
• Remember that contour line is a single, incisive line.
• Vary the weight of the line to relay information about space and weight and to offer contrast.
• Slow, accurate observation is the goal.