Basic 2-D:
Expressive Line Portrait
rev. 2015
Objectives: The student will….
 draw a sophisticated Portrait partially-blind using the appropriate bug method
 plan a balanced and unified overall composition with impressive design qualities
and balanced color scheme
 develop a balanced and unified foreground and background composition using
Calligraphic and Naturalistic Lines
 attend to finishing details and demonstrate a professional work ethic
Vocabulary:
Line: is a continuous mark or a stroke on a surface. The path of a moving
point. It is also an Element of Art.
Contour Line: a line that defines the outer edges and interior defining lines
of an object.
Blind Line Contour: A contour, line drawing where you only look at the
object you are drawing and not the paper.
Partially Blind Contour: A contour drawing created using the 80/20 rule – drawn by looking at the object 80%
of the time and only glancing down at the paper 20% of the time.
Expressive Line: lines that evoke feeling of express your feelings. They often join to create a pattern. The key
to expressive line is variation in designs and line weights
Calligraphic Lines: lines that reflect cursive handwriting – fluidly rolling up and down to create a bubble at the
top and a neck near the bottom. They repeat within one another until a “thumbprint” is formed.
Implied Line: line that dims, fades, stops, or disappears to suggest a shape or a contour.
Variety: a principle of design where elements are different from each other yet still unified as a whole. An
example is when several lines are drawn with different widths or darkness.
Positive Space: the area that a subject occupies.
Negative Space: the unoccupied area or empty space not taken up by the subject matter.
Instructions:
1. Select a Partner or set up a mirror to draw yourself. Put your partner or self into a pose that can be sustained for at least 20
minutes. Rules for poses:
- No mug shots- where you only draw their head and shoulders straight on.
- You or your partner must sit still while you complete a contour line drawing of them.
- You can take turns – taking breaks when you switch on and off who is posing and who is
drawing.
- A Challenge: Try having your model add a hand or do something interesting.
2. Using the bug method and pencil only begin drawing the portrait partially-blind.
- Draw LIGHTLY!
- FILL THE PAGE!
- Do not Generalize.
- Hair and textures should be broken into shapes only.
- Make sure placement and proportions are correct. Fix if they are not.
- You can erase after you have fixed mistakes
3. Go over the portrait with a black sharpie .
- remember line variation – object in front are usually darker. Minor lines are usually lighter or implied
- erase all unnecessary pencil marks
4. Plan out your color scheme for the foreground and background
5. Plan out your design approach for the foreground and background
- You need to have a balance of expressive lines and calligraphic lines.
- They can be separated in the foreground and background or they can be co-mingled in both foreground
and background
- THE PORTRAIT MUST STAND OUT FROM THE BACKGROUND! This can be done with color
planning or with a change in the density of the design in each part.
6. Using Sharpies, begin adding the expressive lines and calligraphic lines to the composition according to your plan.
- Vary Line widths.
- Make lines crisp and neat
- Use a variety of different sizes and directions for the calligraphic lines
- Use a variety of sophisticated patterns for the expressive line designs
7. Attend to finishing details – Neatly mount on colored paper. Sign within the work. Neatly print your name on the colored
paper in the bottom right corner.