Drawing Exercise Continuous Line Drawing

Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Pencils 4b or Felt Tip Pens

This is a loosening up exercise for all art students. As athletes do warm up exercises, artists should also free up their creative approach. Otherwise, we become too anxious about our visual expectations.

1. Choose a subject - I would advise a portrait or self-portrait for this particular project, or an organic still life like a flower.

2. Set the model or still life up and prepare your materials (pencils 4b or felt tip pen, and paper). Make sure you are comfortable and that your model is too. Sit close to the object that you intend to draw. Spend a few minutes doing this.

3. Concentrate on looking at an internal contour point on your subject as this is where you will start your drawing (the eye is a good starting point for a portrait). An internal contour is what we normally know as a line that describes internal form. As well as finding internal edges, your line should track away from the internal edge and follow the highs and lows of the form in a free flowing way, like the contour lines on a map but not so ridged.

4. It is important that I explain something about the nature of line at this point. Line is the most abstract technique that the artist can use to represent what he or she sees, as the line that you draw does not exist in reality but is created by you to describe something. Therefore, it cannot be used as a method of making a literal copy for our observations (as colour or tone can). This should help you, as the beginner, to understand that all art is metaphor - a sign or a symbol that acts for reality - and not a copy of reality. Line is the best way of introducing this important concept to you. Once you have grasped this notion you are free to become a more creative artist. When writing poetry the poet does not make a literal statement about his or her observations - instead they use metaphor. Picasso said, “Art is a lie that enables us to see the truth”.

5. Now with this in mind place the pencil on the paper at a point that you feel is the most appropriate place to start (remember the eye is a good starting point).

6. Now, start to look and move your eye along the internal contours of your subject slowly. At the same time and at the same pace synchronize the movement of your eye with the movement of your pencil on the paper. Spend at least ten minutes on the drawing, and more if necessary, as the assignment should be completed steadily, perceptively and with consideration. Take your time and be patient. You will not be penalised if you go over the allotted time.

7. This exercise - CONTINUOUS LINE DRAWING is to be completed using an unbroken line. This means that from the start of the drawing to the end you cannot take your pencil off the paper.