Miss Gough

Line
class 1

Contour is the edges and surface ridges of an object, not the mass or volume.

Learning this skill will improve your drawing skills and also help you observe
and understand objects!

When you are drawing a contour, let your eyes follow the contour (edges and
surface ridges of an object) as you draw. This is why were trying it first as a
blind one without looking! You should really try and focus on the object. Spend
time searching it and really try to see the contour for what it is. Your eyes trick
you and cant always be trusted!

A gesture line is an expressive movement using a guideline. It captures the

feeling of motion with very little detail. Thin continuous flow of line that loops,
twists, and changes direction. It represents to interior of an object. It captures
the essence of the subject.

This is a blind contour. A contour drawing done without looking at the page.
This one was done with eyes closed, using touch to guide the drawing. You
will have your eyes open, but you must not look at your page!

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn - Two women teaching a child to walk (1640)
How did Rembrandt used line to give a sense of movement?
Where does your eye go when you view this drawing?

Alberto Giacometti - Chair in the Studio (1946)

How did the artist use line to express something?
How would you describe his line style?
What colours do you get a sense of and why?

Bill Reid - Lootaas [Wave Eater] (1993)

How can you describe these lines?
What do you think this is representing and how do you know?
Do you think any lines are unnecessary or accidental?

Chelsea Stebar - Gesture Drawing - Rest (2009)

How does the variation in the lines change how you view it?
How can you describe these lines?
What do you think this is representing and how do you know?

Ann Radley - Arabeque Bright (2010)

How does the variation in the lines change how you view it?
How can you describe these lines?
What do you think this is representing and how do you know?

Guy Denning - Agression, Compeition, Ambition (2011)

How does the use of varying tones alter how you view this work?
How did the artist use line to give a sense of emotion? Movement?
Does the lack of line make the piece feel unfinished? Why?

Blu - Entry from Sketchbook 4

How does the artist use line to give a sense of tone?
How does the artist use line to give a sense of light?

Blu - MUTO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCoqsVDVWN8

Line
class 2

Blu - Hombre Banano (2004)

Picasso - The Camel; The Dog; The Penguin (c. 1907)

What is the importance of line?

How had Picasso looked at these objects?

John Lennon - Self Portrait (1980)

Describe what the simplicity of line does to the artwork

Is it unfinished? Or was it a purposeful choice? Why do you think so?
How does this minimal sketch give a sense of the whole?
Should there be more or less marks? Why?

Frida Khalo - Musician (1925)

How does the use of line in the various parts of the drawing change?
What does this do to the meaning?
Does it feel unfinished to you?
Why do think she made the choice to leave out the detail?

Daphne Odjig - Family (1978)

How do these lines differ from others weve seen?

What does the variation in tone do to the meaning?
What does the distinct line style tell you about this artwork?

David Hockney - Eugene and Henry (1978)

How does his use of line give a sense of a 3D space?

Could he remove some lines? Or add more?

Swoon - Thalassa (c. 2015)

Swoon - Thalassa (c. 2015) [close ups]

Describe the use of line

Does the use of colour help or hinder the work?
Does it feel unfinished? Why or why not?

Picasso - Igor Stravinsky (1920)

How does this differ from the last slide?

How does the line change the way you view it?
What can you observe about the lines?
How are you able to understand what youre looking at without the use of
shading and colour?

Line
class 3 - Practice

Haida (c. 1870)

No guiding questions - I want students to apply their knowledge

Van Gogh - Starry Night (1889)

No guiding questions - I want students to apply their knowledge

Wassily Kandinsky - Composition VIII (1923)

No guiding questions - I want students to apply their knowledge

Piet Mondrian - Trafalgar Square (1939-1943)

No guiding questions - I want students to apply their knowledge

Bill Reid - Haida Angel (1997)

No guiding questions - I want students to apply their knowledge

Hong Chun Zhang - Life Strands (2004); Twin Spirits #2 (2002)

No guiding questions - I want students to apply their knowledge

Liliana Porter - Blue Drawing (2007)

No guiding questions - I want students to apply their knowledge

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class 4 - work period

Line
class 5 - SKETCHBOOK