Contour Drawings

Blind Contour and Modified Contour Drawings

BLIND Contour examples:



PURPOSE: To teach yourself how to REALLY look at your subject. This requires a slow observation.

How do you do it:

• Keep your drawing tool (pencil, pen, crayon, etc.) on the paper at all times.
• Do not lift off the paper
• Move slowly
• Do not look at your paper.
• Keep your eyes fixed on your hand (or whatever you are drawing).
• As you slowly follow the contour of your subject (the hand) with your eyes, your drawing tool will move along the paper at the same time.
• You may look at your drawing only when you have finished.
• Do not fix anything.
• Expect a funny (bad?) drawing.

MODIFIED Contour Drawing

This is similar to the BLIND process except for the fact that you can now look at your drawing.

Requirements:

• You still cannot lift your drawing tool.
• You still should draw slowly.
• You still need to look at your subject carefully.
• Spend at least 5 minutes per drawing.