August 30
Theme #1: Contour Line

 

 

A contour line delineates both the outside edge of an object as well as its interior shapes and forms.  It differs from an outline in that an outline only considers the outside edge of an object.  Contour line drawings focus on the nature and character of the line and usually avoid shading or chiaroscuro effects.

 

Project
Instructions
Supplies
Wire drawing    
  Shape 24 - gauge wire into assorted forms Newsprint
  Draw those forms using one continuous line Pencils
    Wire (supplied by instructor)
     
Gesture drawing    
  Pick an object from the box Newsprint
  Draw the object using one sustained gesture Pencils, pens and crayons
  Execute 3, 1 minute and 3 minute sessions  
     
Blind drawing    
  Examine your non-drawing hand Newsprint
  Draw your hand as you trace it's contours with your eyes Drawing paper
  Use one continuous line Pencils, pens and crayons
  Do not lift your pencil from your paper until you are done  
  Do not look at your drawing  
     
Contour line drawing    
  Create an in-depth contour line drawing of a single object or an assortment of objects 18 X 24 drawing paper
  Students may want to bring objects from home Pencils, pens, grease pencil, crayons or marker
    Blue ball-point pen

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are starting with the simplest form of mark making, a line.  Although simple, lines can communicate an extraordinary range of information and expression.

 

 

Edvard Munch. The Shriek.  1896.  Lithograph printed in black.
Preble, Duane, Sarah Preble and Patrick Frank. Artforms. Seventh ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Warhol. Green Coca-Cola Bottles. 1962.
Fichner-Rathus, Lois. Understanding Art. Seventh edition. Australia: Thomson Wadsworth, 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edouard Manet. Olympia. 1863.
Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History. Revised Second ed. Vol. 2. New York: Prentice Hall Inc., and Harry N. Abrams Inc., 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lines we create and compose in a work can vary from abstract...

 

 

Jackson Pollock. Autumn Rhythm (Number 30). 1950.
Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History. Revised Second ed. Vol. 2. New York: Prentice Hall Inc., and Harry N. Abrams, 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

to precise and mechanical.

 

 

Photorevolver

Photorevolver
Rosenblum, Naomi. A World History of Photography. Abbeville Press, New York. 1989.

 

 

 

 

 

In this theme, you will be asked to explore the possibilities of line.  Here are some examples and sources of inspiration:

 

 

Pat Marovich.  Hand with Scissors.  Date unknown.
Edwards, Betty.  Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  Los Angeles: J.P. Tarcher, Inc., 1979.

 

 

 

 

 

 
Jennifer Pastor.  Flow Chart for the "Perfect Ride" Animation.  1999 - 2000.
Hoptman, Laura. drawing now: eight propositions.  New York:  The Museum of Modern Art, 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandra Whipple.  Overlapping Shoe Forms.  1961.
Chaet, Bernard.  The Art of Drawing. Third edition.  New York:  Holt, Rinehart and Wilson, 1983.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hung Liu.  Trauma.  1989.  Ink on plywood cutouts, acrylic on wall, felt cutout and wooden bowl.
Lazzari, Margaret and Dona Schlesier. Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach. Second edition. Australia: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.