Blind Contour Drawing - Humble ISD
BLIND
Brenda Hoddinott B-05 BEGINNER: LEARN TO SEE Learning to draw accurately depends on many hours of practicing the skill of coordinating your visual skills with your drawing hand, until your eyes and hand work together effortlessly. This fun project enhances your observation skills by encouraging you to very closely examine your subject. In essence, you draw by looking only at your drawing subject, rather than your subject and your pencil and paper. This exercise is divided into two sections: SETTING UP YOUR DRAWING SPACE: This section tells you how to prepare your subject and supplies for doing this exercise. CONTOUR DRAWING WITH ONLY ONE LINE: Coordinating your vision with your drawing hand is fundamental to learning to draw proportionately correct. You use one long continuous line to draw a simple object without looking at your paper. Suggested supplies include several sheets of white drawing paper, a few freshly sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener, and tape.
5 PAGES – 6 ILLUSTRATIONS This lesson is recommended for artists of all ages and skill levels, as well as students of home schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators. Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada – 2008
-2-
SETTING UP YOUR DRAWING SPACE
ART SPEAK
Coordinating your vision with your drawing hand is fundamental to learning to draw proportionately correct. No doubt, you are familiar with the artistic concept of right and left sides of the brain. In this exercise you draw on (pun intended) both sides of your brain. Your right brain controls most of the actual drawing, but your left brain helps by visually measuring distances and sizing up proportions.
Drawing: is the application of an art medium to a surface so as to produce a visual image that visually defines an artist’s choice of drawing subjects from his or her own unique perspective.
Before you begin this exercise, you need to understand the concept of contour drawing. As with most communications, a visual example speaks much more clearly than words. Examine the contour drawings in Figures 501 and 502.
Figure 501: Contour drawing of the well chewed end of a rawhide dog toy.
Figure 502: Contour drawing of a small plastic toy.
However, don’t think for a second that drawings done with blind contour drawing can look this precise! Actually, your drawings will probably look awful (but no doubt very funny) the first few times you try this exercise. You may even want to play a game with your friends of “What is this?” In other words, the process you use for blind contour drawing is in itself, a million times more valuable than the resulting drawings.
Proportion: is the relationship in size of one component of a drawing to another or others. Right brain: helps with the process of drawing in a nonnarrative context by seeing proportions and relationships between lines, shapes, and spaces. Left-brain: uses logic to establish accurate proportions. For example, mathematically measuring the distances of lines and the sizes of shapes relies mostly on the left-brain. Your leftbrain also helps you to analyze and follow step-bystep instructions. Contour drawing: is a drawing comprised of lines that follow the contours of the edges of various components of a drawing subject. Form: as applied to drawing, is the illusion of the threedimensional structure of a shape, such as a circle, square or triangle, created in a drawing with shading and/or perspective. Curved lines: are created when a straight line curves (or bends). Shape: refers to the outward outline of a form. Basic shapes include circles, squares and triangles.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott. E-mail [email protected] Web site http://www.drawspace.com
-3With lots of practice, you acquire more confidence with drawing what you actually see, rather that your preconceived notions of what you think you see. Figure 503 is a blind contour drawing of a hand, rendered with one long continuous line. In other words, the pencil wasn’t lifted from the paper until the drawing was complete. Figure 503: Blind contour drawing of a hand showing the starting and finishing points of the one line used to render the drawing.
You need very little in the way of art supplies to do this invaluable little exercise; only pencils, paper, and tape. Your goal is to simply make the most accurate drawing you possibly can without looking at your drawing paper. Set yourself up to draw as follows: 1)
Sharpen several pencils (or you can use a fine point black marker if you prefer).
2)
Find a simple object to draw. Place it in a position where you can see it clearly from where you are seated. If you’re right handed place the object on your far left and if you’re left handed put it on your far right.
3)
Tape a sheet of drawing paper (from your sketchbook if you wish) to your drawing surface so the paper doesn’t move as you draw.
CONTOUR DRAWING WITH ONLY ONE LINE In this section you use one long continuous line to draw a simple object without looking at your paper. Choose a time when you can work without interruptions. Put out the cat, take the phone off the hook, and settle down in a comfortable well lit part of your home. Position yourself so that you are facing the object, but can’t see your drawing paper. Resist the urge to look at what you are drawing. No cheating now! Read through all the following instructions before you begin: 1)
Rest your drawing arm on the table in a comfortable position.
2)
Place the point of your pencil on your drawing surface and look back at the object.
3)
Focus your complete attention on the edges and lines of the object.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott. E-mail [email protected] Web site http://www.drawspace.com
-44)
Allow your eyes to focus on one section of an edge of the object and very slowly visually follow the line created by this edge. At the same time, move your pencil very slowly in the same direction as your eyes. As you draw, don’t think about what the subject is. Instead focus on the shapes and spaces on either side of the lines. Keep your eyes and pencil moving together at the same slow, steady pace. Carefully notice each time the line on the edge of the object changes direction. Without peeking at your paper, allow your pencil to record every detail of the line (or lines) you are seeing.
5)
Continue looking and drawing until you have drawn the entire object.
CHALLENGE Repeat this exercise (with the same object or different objects) several times using the same process of drawing with one line. Then, to add a more challenging twist, draw another object in the same way, but occasionally lift your pencil as you draw the object. This is actually much more difficult in that it’s almost impossible to begin in the correct place again once your pencil leaves the paper. Figure 506: The best of several blind contour drawings of my hand; each was rendered by lifting the pencil from the paper once and a while.
Figure 504: Blind contour drawing created by sometimes lifting the pencil from the paper.
Figures 504 and 505 show drawings rendered by occasionally lifting the pencil. By the way, I did several other drawings of each of these subjects, but picked the best ones to show you. For example, I threw away the one of my hand with three fingers growing out of my thumb! Repeat these exercises every chance you can. Remember, the goal is to enhance your visual skills; hence, your drawing skills naturally improve.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott. E-mail [email protected] Web site http://www.drawspace.com
-5-
BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, and oil paints.
My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter, the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable. >Brenda Hoddinott
Brenda Hoddinott B-05 BEGINNER: LEARN TO SEE Learning to draw accurately depends on many hours of practicing the skill of coordinating your visual skills with your drawing hand, until your eyes and hand work together effortlessly. This fun project enhances your observation skills by encouraging you to very closely examine your subject. In essence, you draw by looking only at your drawing subject, rather than your subject and your pencil and paper. This exercise is divided into two sections: SETTING UP YOUR DRAWING SPACE: This section tells you how to prepare your subject and supplies for doing this exercise. CONTOUR DRAWING WITH ONLY ONE LINE: Coordinating your vision with your drawing hand is fundamental to learning to draw proportionately correct. You use one long continuous line to draw a simple object without looking at your paper. Suggested supplies include several sheets of white drawing paper, a few freshly sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener, and tape.
5 PAGES – 6 ILLUSTRATIONS This lesson is recommended for artists of all ages and skill levels, as well as students of home schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators. Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada – 2008
-2-
SETTING UP YOUR DRAWING SPACE
ART SPEAK
Coordinating your vision with your drawing hand is fundamental to learning to draw proportionately correct. No doubt, you are familiar with the artistic concept of right and left sides of the brain. In this exercise you draw on (pun intended) both sides of your brain. Your right brain controls most of the actual drawing, but your left brain helps by visually measuring distances and sizing up proportions.
Drawing: is the application of an art medium to a surface so as to produce a visual image that visually defines an artist’s choice of drawing subjects from his or her own unique perspective.
Before you begin this exercise, you need to understand the concept of contour drawing. As with most communications, a visual example speaks much more clearly than words. Examine the contour drawings in Figures 501 and 502.
Figure 501: Contour drawing of the well chewed end of a rawhide dog toy.
Figure 502: Contour drawing of a small plastic toy.
However, don’t think for a second that drawings done with blind contour drawing can look this precise! Actually, your drawings will probably look awful (but no doubt very funny) the first few times you try this exercise. You may even want to play a game with your friends of “What is this?” In other words, the process you use for blind contour drawing is in itself, a million times more valuable than the resulting drawings.
Proportion: is the relationship in size of one component of a drawing to another or others. Right brain: helps with the process of drawing in a nonnarrative context by seeing proportions and relationships between lines, shapes, and spaces. Left-brain: uses logic to establish accurate proportions. For example, mathematically measuring the distances of lines and the sizes of shapes relies mostly on the left-brain. Your leftbrain also helps you to analyze and follow step-bystep instructions. Contour drawing: is a drawing comprised of lines that follow the contours of the edges of various components of a drawing subject. Form: as applied to drawing, is the illusion of the threedimensional structure of a shape, such as a circle, square or triangle, created in a drawing with shading and/or perspective. Curved lines: are created when a straight line curves (or bends). Shape: refers to the outward outline of a form. Basic shapes include circles, squares and triangles.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott. E-mail [email protected] Web site http://www.drawspace.com
-3With lots of practice, you acquire more confidence with drawing what you actually see, rather that your preconceived notions of what you think you see. Figure 503 is a blind contour drawing of a hand, rendered with one long continuous line. In other words, the pencil wasn’t lifted from the paper until the drawing was complete. Figure 503: Blind contour drawing of a hand showing the starting and finishing points of the one line used to render the drawing.
You need very little in the way of art supplies to do this invaluable little exercise; only pencils, paper, and tape. Your goal is to simply make the most accurate drawing you possibly can without looking at your drawing paper. Set yourself up to draw as follows: 1)
Sharpen several pencils (or you can use a fine point black marker if you prefer).
2)
Find a simple object to draw. Place it in a position where you can see it clearly from where you are seated. If you’re right handed place the object on your far left and if you’re left handed put it on your far right.
3)
Tape a sheet of drawing paper (from your sketchbook if you wish) to your drawing surface so the paper doesn’t move as you draw.
CONTOUR DRAWING WITH ONLY ONE LINE In this section you use one long continuous line to draw a simple object without looking at your paper. Choose a time when you can work without interruptions. Put out the cat, take the phone off the hook, and settle down in a comfortable well lit part of your home. Position yourself so that you are facing the object, but can’t see your drawing paper. Resist the urge to look at what you are drawing. No cheating now! Read through all the following instructions before you begin: 1)
Rest your drawing arm on the table in a comfortable position.
2)
Place the point of your pencil on your drawing surface and look back at the object.
3)
Focus your complete attention on the edges and lines of the object.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott. E-mail [email protected] Web site http://www.drawspace.com
-44)
Allow your eyes to focus on one section of an edge of the object and very slowly visually follow the line created by this edge. At the same time, move your pencil very slowly in the same direction as your eyes. As you draw, don’t think about what the subject is. Instead focus on the shapes and spaces on either side of the lines. Keep your eyes and pencil moving together at the same slow, steady pace. Carefully notice each time the line on the edge of the object changes direction. Without peeking at your paper, allow your pencil to record every detail of the line (or lines) you are seeing.
5)
Continue looking and drawing until you have drawn the entire object.
CHALLENGE Repeat this exercise (with the same object or different objects) several times using the same process of drawing with one line. Then, to add a more challenging twist, draw another object in the same way, but occasionally lift your pencil as you draw the object. This is actually much more difficult in that it’s almost impossible to begin in the correct place again once your pencil leaves the paper. Figure 506: The best of several blind contour drawings of my hand; each was rendered by lifting the pencil from the paper once and a while.
Figure 504: Blind contour drawing created by sometimes lifting the pencil from the paper.
Figures 504 and 505 show drawings rendered by occasionally lifting the pencil. By the way, I did several other drawings of each of these subjects, but picked the best ones to show you. For example, I threw away the one of my hand with three fingers growing out of my thumb! Repeat these exercises every chance you can. Remember, the goal is to enhance your visual skills; hence, your drawing skills naturally improve.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this document belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott. E-mail [email protected] Web site http://www.drawspace.com
-5-
BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, and oil paints.
My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter, the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable. >Brenda Hoddinott
