There are many beginning approaches to drawing, most of which involve copying. Gesture drawing is a basic exercise in seeing where the hand imitates the motion of the eyes. According to Sale and Betti in Drawing A Contemporary Approach, there are various types of gesture drawing: line, mass, scribble, and sustained gesture drawing. The general characteristics of the subject’s placement, shape, and proportion are created through quick gesture or scribble drawing with a variety of lines. The teacher should stand, while demonstrating gesture drawing, use a large piece of paper and large arm movements with continuous marks. Placing or raising the paper on an easel or inclined surface allows the artist to keep constant eye connection with the subject. By keeping the drawing tool on the paper, the artist is less likely to lose his/her place.
Other methods encouraging hand-eye coordination and similar to gesture drawing are: continuous-line drawing, organizational-line drawing, and contour-line drawing. Continuous-line drawing involves keeping constant contact with the paper with the drawing tool, creating one single line to define outside as well as inside edges of the subject. Organizational line drawing is a structural or framework style of sketching where marks define horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines of the subject. Building up dark values and using an eraser as a drawing tool to place lighter values are also characteristic to organizational line drawing. Contour-line drawing reinforces the hand and eye as one and involves using a single, precise line. The teacher should encourage the student to imagine the point of the drawing tool actually touching the subject as it is drawn. Contour-line follows the edges of the subject and does not overlap. Blind contour-line drawings are amusing for students because they are not allowed to look at the paper. Although any subject can be chosen, having students blindly draw each others face is enjoyable and reinforces the hand-eye connection.
Click HERE to experience a BLIND contour line drawing!
Click HERE to watch a contour line drawing tutorial!
Other methods encouraging hand-eye coordination and similar to gesture drawing are: continuous-line drawing, organizational-line drawing, and contour-line drawing. Continuous-line drawing involves keeping constant contact with the paper with the drawing tool, creating one single line to define outside as well as inside edges of the subject. Organizational line drawing is a structural or framework style of sketching where marks define horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines of the subject. Building up dark values and using an eraser as a drawing tool to place lighter values are also characteristic to organizational line drawing. Contour-line drawing reinforces the hand and eye as one and involves using a single, precise line. The teacher should encourage the student to imagine the point of the drawing tool actually touching the subject as it is drawn. Contour-line follows the edges of the subject and does not overlap. Blind contour-line drawings are amusing for students because they are not allowed to look at the paper. Although any subject can be chosen, having students blindly draw each others face is enjoyable and reinforces the hand-eye connection.
Click HERE to experience a BLIND contour line drawing!
Click HERE to watch a contour line drawing tutorial!