Drawing
Gestures &
Contours
Drawing starts early…
The desire to draw is as natural as the desire to talk.
As children, we draw long before we learn to read and
write. Writing is a kind of “drawing”.
To some, developing drawing skills may be easier than
learning to write.
BEFORE AND AFTER STUDENT DRAWINGS
To visually illustrate the fact that drawing can be learned, here are some
before and after drawings done by students. The first drawings by the
students are on the left. Two months later the same students drew another
portrait (not necessarily the same subject). They learned to draw.
With practice, we can see how much someone can improve in just
2 months!
VINCENT
VAN GOGH
1880 DRAWING
1882 DRAWING
These two drawings also illustrate how Van Gogh learned to
draw better with practice.
Practice is key!!!
DRAWING
There are two basic ways to
practice drawing.
• The first is an intense, slow
inspection of the subject – a
careful examination of its parts.
This is called contour drawing.
• The second is a quick, allencompassing overview of forms
in their wholeness, this is called
gesture drawing.
Contour drawing shows the outline of the
subject. Not the volume or mass of an object.
Picasso War and Peace
Henri Matisse Fleur
Contour lines define
only the edges of
the subject.
Picasso
Igor Stravinsky
Learning how to contour draw will…
Enhance your drawing
skills.
Gesture….
Unlike contour
drawing gesture
drawing
represents the
interior of an
object.
It is done very
quickly.
Justin Sweet
Gesture – is an essential
starting point for the
drawing student.
The gestural approach is
actually an exercise in
seeing. The hand
duplicates the movement of
the eyes, quickly defining
general characteristics of
the subject
Gestures are done quickly
capturing the essence of
the object. It is
spontaneous and free
flowing.
Focus on:
SHAPE! SHAPE!
SHAPE!: Focus on the
shape of the model –
not the fine details
Use your whole arm
when drawing – don’t
grip the pencil too
tight
Keep in mind…
We are NOT potatoes…
I am not a potato!
TORSO
PELVIS
…so do not draw us like
one.
It can look like scribbles
Justin Sweet
Imagine lines
that are…
• Continuous
• Flowing
• Coming out of the
Drawing
• Looping
• Twisting
• Changing direction
Justin Sweet
Why do we
do this?
• To train your
hands to
quickly
sketch what
the brain has
already seen
• To let go of
inhibitions
• To capture
the essence
of an object
Artist create gesture
drawings to portray
an idea of an image.
Practicing this
technique helps
them understand
that image.
Rembrandt Gesture Drawing, Preacher, 1644
Quick Line Gesture
Mass and Line Gestures
Mass gesture examples
Mass and Line Gesture
Assignment :
For this assignment,
you will create
contour and gesture
drawings.
C
o
n
t
o
u
r
Steps for creating a successful contour
drawing…
There are two things to remember:
1.) You must keep your pen on the paper at all times without
removing it
2.) You must allow your hand/pen to follow the direction and
speed of your eyes as they move across the object.
Steps for a successful gesture drawing
1. FOCUS--- constantly. Estimate proportions, contours, movement,
and contrasts quickly. Determine contours first, then interior
shapes and shadows.
2. DRAW LIGHTLY---then get darker as you correct your mistakes
and finalize your work
3. DRAW QUICKLY--- Keep the pencil/pen in constant circular and
linear motion. Catch the form, not the details.
4. NO ERASING. Gesture drawing's purpose is to develop visual
skills which will effect expertise. Erasing breaks focus and wastes
time.