Contours in Constructive Drawing
The theory of contours is one of the most important parts of constructive drawing. Contours are virtual guides that help to make flat drawings appear three-dimensional. Contours are needed in linear drawing as well as in tonal rendering. They tell which direction to hatch tonal values and reveal the 3D shapes of objects. In the Life Drawing Academy Correspondence Course, the topic on contours is explained and demonstrated in depth. The course students do multiple drawing tasks on learning how to find best contours and how to draw whatever they see or imagine using those contours.
How to Use Contours and Outlines in Life Drawing
In this video, you will discouver how to use contours and outlines in life drawing. To begin with, we need to decide on what are the contours and outlines and why are they important in life drawing? Contours are virtual lines. Do not confuse them with the visible outlines of a body...
Contours for tonal rendering
In this video, you will see a still life drawing by Rose, a Life Drawing Academy Correspondence Course student, and the answer to her question about a better direction of hatching strokes that follows contours of a cylindrical surface.
Theory of Contours
We need contours for constructive drawing because contours are virtual cross-sections that help to describe the object's three-dimensional construction. It is better to use contours instead of outlines when drawing greatly foreshortened objects. Also, it is better to apply pencil strokes along contours when hatching tonal values to make an object appear more thee-dimensional.
Contours of a Cube
Contours of a Cube are always straight lines. Some directions of contours help to reveal three-dimensional construction of a cube while others will flatten it. That it is why it is important to know how to intersect a cube with virtual planes to draw various contours. Watch this video to find out more.
Contours of a Cylinder
Drawing contours helps to depict such cylindrical objects like cans, mugs, vases, columns, arms and legs, neck, fingers, etc. more convincing and believable. Knowing how to draw contours in the right direction is a great skill every fine artist must have. There are right and wrong ways of using contours. This video will help you with this topic.
Contours of a Cone
In this video, you will discover which contours are suitable for cone drawing and which contours are better to avoid when drawing conical objects.
Contours of a Sphere
Contours of a Sphere are circles in perspective. A circle in perspective appears as a perfectly elliptical oval. In this video, you will find out which directions of ovals reveal spherical shapes the best way depending on the point of view.
How to Draw Hands Using Contours
There is one important thing you need to know when drawing foreshortened objects such as hands in perspective. When a finger is foreshortened, we do not mark its outlines, instead, we only use contours.To learn good drawing techniques, enroll in the Life Drawing Academy course:
Online Course
A self-study, self-paced course for you to learn fundamental methods of classical drawing and improve life drawing skills by watching video lessons and doing assignments
- Unlimited access to 52 life drawing video lessons
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Personal Tutoring Online + Online Course
The ultimate choice if you who would like to receive personal, one-to-one tutoring from the Academy teachers, which is custom-tailored to your skills and needs
- Everything in Online Course, plus:
- Dedicated team of art tutors
- Assessment of your current level of drawing skills
- Personalized curriculum tailored to your skills and goals
- Up to 100 drawing tasks with by-task assessment
- Unlimited one-to-one personal coaching with detailed per-task instructions and feedback
- Artwork critiques and results-oriented guidance
One-time payment - Lifetime membership
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