Contour Drawing

Draw any object by only looking at the object, not at your drawing. Start at a chosen place on the object along one of the objects outlines, and slowly move your pencil along the paper as you move your eyes along the objects' outlines and other features. Try to keep your pencil on the paper, rather than lifting it up to draw a different area. You may find it difficult to keep yourself from peeking at your drawing. To keep yourself from peeking you can try placing something over your drawing so that you can't see it, placing your pencil through an index card or place your drawing board or sketchbook under a table. This is also called Blind Contour Drawing.

At first yiour Contour Drawings will probably look strange. You will begin to see details of the object that you might otherwise have missed had you not carefully moved along every bump and curve of the object. If you practice Contour Drawing often, you will find that it improves your observation skills and your drawing skills. Your Contour Drawings will improve with practice and so will your regular drawings.

Drawing your other hand is a very common choice when starting your first contour drawing because it's easily available, and hands have many lines and curves to follow. Other objects to try are your feet, shells, plants, flowers, trees, or people.