Start With Contour Drawing If You Want To Be Better

Contour drawing is an art technique in which the artist tends to focus on the form and style of the subject by drawing its outlines. The primary focus is not what you’re drawing but the observation skills you’ll develop through it.

Contour drawing is an art technique that allows an artist to focus on the outer form or outline of the subject. Contour drawing lets the artist observe the style and contours of the subject.

It enhances the observational skills. Mostly you’ll learn this technique at the beginning of the art journey to better understand hand-eye coordination.

This drawing technique lets you draw without being drowned in a lot of details. You can just let loose and practice drawing whatever you like. Just neglect all the details and focus on the outline.

Contour drawing has a lot of different forms. I’ll discuss a few here:

• Technique: Blind contour drawing
• Properties: Purest form, single line, no paper checks.
• Purpose: Focuses on observation and hand-eye coordination.
• How to draw: Stare at the subject, and continuously draw the outline without looking at the paper.
• Look at paper: No
• Lift pencil: No

• Technique: Pure contour drawing
• Properties: Defined lines, captures details.
• Purpose: Creates an accurate outline with good observation.
• How to draw: Look back and forth between the subject and the paper.
• Look at the paper: Yes
• Lift pencil: Yes

• Technique: Continuous line contour drawing
• Properties: Single, flowing line, emphasizes line weight.
• Purpose: Captures movement and form with a dynamic line.
• How to draw: Look at the paper as you draw but don’t lift the pencil.
• Look at the paper: Yes
• Lift pencil: No

• Technique: Cross contour drawing
• Properties: Creates depth and volume.
• Purpose: Shows the form by drawing lines across the surface, following curves and folds.
• How to draw: Look at the subject, and draw lines that follow the form’s 3D structure.
• Look at the paper: Yes
• Lift pencil: Yes

• Technique: Implied contour drawing
• Properties: Suggests form using negative space or shading.
• Purpose: Focuses on light and shadow to imply the form.
• How to draw: Look at the subject, and use negative space or shading to suggest the form rather than drawing the direct outline.
• Look at the paper: Yes
• Lift pencil: Yes

These are the most common contour drawing techniques. These all are great for enhancing hand-eye coordination. Mostly these techniques are learned at the beginning of the art journey to develop the artistic skills better. You can explore, practice, and combine these techniques to make your drawings look more interesting.