Contour drawing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contour drawing is an art technique in which the artist sketches the style of the subject by drawing lines that result in a drawing that is essentially an outline (the French word contour meaning "outline").[1] The purpose of contour drawing 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. However, because contour can convey a three-dimensional perspective, length and width as well as thickness and depth are important; not all contours exist along the outlines of a subject.[2] This technique is manifested in different styles and practiced in drawing development and learning.
Contour drawing is an essential technique in the field of art because it is a strong foundation for any drawing or painting; it can potentially modify a subjects’ form through variation within the lines. It is widely accepted among schools, art institutions, and colleges as an effective training aid and discipline[3] for beginner artists. In the hands of a talented master, the line that conveys contour can deliver an astonishing amount of visual delight.
Technique
In a continuous-line drawing, the artist looks both at the subject and the paper, moving the medium over the paper, and creating a silhouette of the object. Like blind contour drawing, contour drawing is an artful experience that relies more on sensation than perception; it's important to be guided by instinct.[2] To make a blind contour drawing, an artist does not look at the paper or canvas on which they are working on.[2] Another technique similar to contour drawing is outline drawing; a division between form and the space a subject occupies.[4] All three types of drawing are considered to be gesture drawings;[4] the practice of drawing a series of bodies in still form. An outline drawing does not include the visual amusement of human sight, while a contour drawing contains form, weight, mass, space, and distance.[4]