how to draw 3d art on lined paper

Last Updated on Jan 12, 2018

When we offset picked up a pen or pencil and started making marks on paper, we began with line. Whether cocky-taught, through trial and fault, or guided by others, we learned how line defines grade, creates structure, divides a frame, traces profile, creates tonal variation (cross-hatching, for example) and leads the eye from 1 function of a piece of work to some other. Initially a mechanism for getting outlines onto paper – identifying edges – nosotros begin to applaud lines for their own merit: celebrate their presence…whether a quiet flick of charcoal on paper or a streak of graphite.

This article contains exercises for Art students who wish to produce contour line drawings, cross contour drawings, blind drawings and other types of line drawings. Information technology is a teaching aid for loftier school Art students and includes classroom activities, a free downloadable PDF worksheet and inspirational artist drawings.

Bullheaded Profile Drawing

Definition: A blind contour drawing contains lines that are drawn without ever looking at the slice of newspaper. This forces yous to study a scene closely, observing every shape and border with your eyes, as your hand mimics these on newspaper. The aim is non to produce a realistic artwork, merely rather to strengthen the connectedness between eyes, paw and brain: a reminder that, when drawing, y'all must first learn to see.

Blind Drawing Exercises: Blind drawing is an fantabulous style to outset a high school Fine Fine art programme. Drawing wobbly lines that bear little resemblance to the chosen object is relaxing and stress-free. Often, a classroom bubbles with laughter at the unexpected results. Blind drawing stretches the artillery and soul; eases you into observational cartoon without fright.

A warm-up activity in which students were asked to create blind profile line drawings of beat (teaching exemplar by the Pupil Fine art Guide). These blind drawings were included in the offset preparatory sheets submitted by CIE IGCSE Art and Blueprint students.

Gesture Cartoon / Timed Cartoon / Movement Drawing

Definition: A gesture drawing is completed rapidly – often in curt timed durations, such as 20, 30, sixty or 90 seconds – using fast, expressive lines. Gesture drawings capture basic forms and proportions – the emotion and essence of a subject – without focusing on item. Due to their rapid completion, they are a bully way to tape move and action, besides as increment your drawing speed, confidence and intuitive mark-making skill. Gesture drawings are best completed with smooth, hands practical mediums (chunky graphite pencils, charcoal sticks, pastels, soft brushes dipped in Indian ink, for example), without the apply of an eraser. They are often completed on big, inexpensive sheets of newspaper, where you can movement your arm fluidly, be bold with mark-making, and not worry about mistakes. As with blind drawings, gesture drawing is an platonic warm-upwards action.

Gesture Drawing Exercises: When you begin investigating your subject field matter in the initial phase of a high school Art programme, information technology can be helpful to make several first-hand gestural drawings. The best of these can be selected for your final portfolio (taking advantage of a photocopier or digital camera to reduce in size, if necessary). A modest still life scene can be depicted merely as easily as a large moving form.

A gesture drawing by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn:

This gestural drawing by Rembrandt is completed using ruby chalk on rough, textured paper. With just a few expressive lines, we instantly recognise the scene: 2 women education a child to walk.

A gestural effigy drawing by Chelsea Stebar:

Completed while studying Blitheness, this gesture drawing captures a clothed figure. Annotation the variation in line weight: low-cal lines applied initially, with darker lines and hints of particular all that are needed.

Continuous Line Drawing

Definition: A continuous line drawing is produced without ever lifting the drawing instrument from the page. This means that, in addition to outlines and internal shapes, the pencil must move back and forth beyond the surface of the newspaper, with lines doubling dorsum on each other, so that the drawing is one free-flowing, unbroken line. To avoid the temptation to erase lines, it tin be helpful to complete a continuous line drawing with an ink pen, varying the line weight, as needed, to signal perspective and areas of light and shadow. Like the drawing methods described in a higher place, this cartoon method develops confidence and drawing speed, and encourages your optics and hand and brain to work together. Continuous line drawings work all-time with in-depth observation of your field of study, without interference from your thinking mind. According to Smithsonian Studio Arts:

…continuous line drawing is really a very powerful way to create a piece that is both hard edged and fluid, representational and abstract, rational and emotional all in one.

Continuous Line Cartoon Exercises: This drawing method is great for sketchbooks and drawing from life. It can be an splendid starter activeness, with drawings completed on big, inexpensive newspaper that can be scanned / edited / cropped and used in other means within your projects.

An A Level Fine art sketchbook page by Lucy Feng from Hereford Sixth Form College, Herefordshire, U.k.:

This beautiful sketchbook folio contains several continuous line drawings, drawn from first-hand observation.

Contour drawing

Definition: A profile cartoon shows the outlines, shapes and edges of a scene, but omits fine detail, surface texture, colour and tone ('contour' is French for 'outline'). Co-ordinate to Wikipedia:

The purpose of contour drawing is to emphasize the mass and volume of the subject field rather than the detail; the focus is on the outlined shape of the subject and not the small details.

The illusion of three-dimensional course, infinite and altitude can be conveyed in a contour drawing through the use of varied line-weight (darker lines in the foreground / paler lines in the distance) and perspective.

Contour Drawing Exercises: Using line alone eliminates the challenge of applying tone, colour and mediums; and instead focuses attention solely upon shape and proportion. After completing warm-up activities such as blind and gesture drawings, slower, more formal profile drawings can be an excellent fashion to brainstorm more than realistic representations of your bailiwick matter. Used intermittently throughout projects, contour drawings can likewise be helpful for the student who needs to work faster.

A contour drawing by Ultima Thule:

Mod line drawings past Ultima Thule: there is a slick contrast in this drawing betwixt the abrupt blackness lines and the dripping green. The application of colour to one area creates a dramatic focal indicate.

Cross contour drawing

Definition: A cross contour drawing contains parallel lines that run across the surface of an object (or radiate from a central bespeak), such as those that appear on a topographical map or a digital wireframe. The lines tin run at any appropriate angle (sometimes at multiple angles) and may keep across objects and into the groundwork. Cross contour drawings typically follow the rules of perspective, with lines drawn closer together in the distance and further autonomously in the foreground. In this blazon of cartoon, the illusion of three-dimensional volume is created entirely with line.

Cross Profile Cartoon Exercises: This is an splendid way to gain familiarity with the volumes and 3-dimensional forms in your project, producing analytical cross contour drawings that are suitable for sketchbooks or early preparatory sheets.

Cross contour drawing of a crush past Matt Louscher:

This delicate cantankerous contour drawing helps to communicate the bumpy surface of the shell. Notation how the shell pieces that are furthest away from the viewer are sparse and light, whereas those that are closest are darker and thicker. Annotation besides how the direction of the profile lines relates to the shape of object that is drawn, with lines projecting outwards from the centre of the beat.

Cross contour hand drawings by (from left) Mathew Young, Ryan Acks and Lea Dallaglio while studying at the San Jose Country University, Department of Art and Art History:

Hands are a bully bailiwick for a cross contour line drawing practice. Easily can create interesting, complex, curving shapes, every bit in the examples to a higher place, and are readily available for kickoff-hand observation. Notation how the density and weight of the line also helps to communicate areas of light and shadow.

Cross profile drawings past Daniel Servin (left) and Alfred Manzano, completed while studying AP Studio Fine art at Mt Eden Loftier School in Hayward, California, USA:

These cross profile drawings were completed as office of Breadth assignments for AP Studio Art. These drawings show clever utilise of line thickness, with the line-weight varying in guild to create the illusion of tone and bear witness three-dimensional class.

A wireframe contour drawing do by Year ix student Seonmin Lee from ACG Parnell College, Auckland, New Zealand:

Contour lines can also exist a great mode for students to design three-dimensional forms. These drawings were completed as part of a papier mache sculpture project, with the profile lines representing the supporting cane structure.

Planar analysis cartoon

Definition: A planar analysis drawing simplifies complex curved surfaces into flat planes, using straight lines. This process helps students to think about the underlying structure of objects and results in an analytical cartoon, that is rather mechanical in advent.

Planar Analysis Drawing Activity: This can exist a slap-up introductory drawing exercise, specially if you are moving towards Cubism or abstracting scenes into geometric form.

A planar analysis portrait completed by a student of Cat Normoyle:

The symmetry and familiarity of the homo confront makes portraiture a groovy subject for planar assay; the task of converting circuitous iii-dimensional form into flat surfaces. Note the careful attending given to the olfactory organ and lips in this example.

Wire sculpture drawings

Definition: Wire tin can be cut and bent into shapes with pliers to create three-dimensional 'drawings', often resulting in a piece of work filled with flowing, curved lines. These wire sculptures can be fastened to a two-dimensional frame or a apartment surface, hung in the air, or be left gratis-continuing, irresolute in appearance as a viewer moves around the room. Due to their flexible nature, wire sculptures often move slightly in the wind, adding an extra interactive element to the work.

Wire Sculpture Line Cartoon Exercise: This is an first-class activity for eye schoolhouse students and for high school students, if it relates specifically to your project (and does not interfere with postage requirements, for those who need to mail work abroad for assessment). Modest wire experiments, using light-weight wire, tin also be mounted to sketchbook pages.

Wire sculptures completed by the students of Amy Bonner Oliveri from Allendale Columbia School, Rochester, New York, United states of america:

This wire drawing exercise 'using line to create space' is completed by students within a 3D Fine art form, working over photographic portraits. Having a base image to work from (this could likewise be an before observational drawing) makes the process of transferring from ii-dimensional to three-dimensional much easier.

Hatching, cross hatching, and other line techniques

As well as representing contours, line tin also exist used to apply tone (light and shadow) to a drawing. This can exist done past altering the:

• Gap betwixt the lines
• Lightness / darkness of the line
• Thickness of the line

There are many line techniques can exist used to create tone, equally illustrated in the worksheet below. Common techniques include:

• Small dashes
• Hatching (long, parallel lines on an angle)
• Cantankerous-hatching (parallel lines at right angles)
• Stippling (dots)
• Scribbles
• Pocket-sized crosses
• Small circles

The angle that these techniques are applied may remain abiding within a drawing, or it may change in response to the bending and management of the forms. For case, cantankerous-hatching may flow around the surface of an object in a like direction as cross profile lines. These techniques are too a groovy way to create the illusion of texture (see our article about observational drawings).

Line Techniques Worksheet: The worksheet below has been provided by the Student Fine art Guide for classroom use only and may be issued freely to students (credited to studentartguide.com), as well every bit shared via the social media buttons at the lesser of this folio. It may not be published online or shared or distributed in any other style, every bit per our terms and conditions. The full size printable worksheet is available by clicking the PDF link below. This worksheet is suitable for middle school students, or senior students who have not had prior feel with line techniques.

This worksheet introduces a range of line drawing techniques and encourages students to invent their own (such as using the first letter of their name). It allows students to practise using these techniques and to apply tone to a range of uncomplicated geometric objects.

Click here to open the total size worksheet as a printable PDF.

An Indian Ink nonetheless life cartoon by Kirana Intraroon, completed while in Year x at ACG Strathallan College, Auckland, New Zealand:

In this ink cartoon, a small filigree experimenting with unlike line techniques has been included in the pinnacle left of the piece of work. Some of these have been selected to employ tone to the work, advisedly replicating reflection and shadow. This epitome was completed using a sharpened bamboo stick dipped in black ink.

An A* GCSE Fine art sketchbook folio by Samantha Li:

In this sketchbook folio Samantha imitates and analyses a line drawing by Vincent van Gogh, discussing the suitability and ceremoniousness of each technique. Note that when learning from artists, it is rarely necessary to slavishly re-create an unabridged work; replicating small pieces (as in this case) is oftentimes all that is needed.

A final GCSE Art piece by Hannah Armstrong:

This enormous pen drawing of a Baryonyx dinosaur measures 1.two x ii.1 metres, and took over 70 hours to complete. Information technology was the dramatic conclusion to a Year eleven high school Art project.

Artist line drawings

Hither is a collection of line drawings from famous and less well known artists, to inspire high school Art students and teachers. This section is continually updated. Enjoy!

Pablo Picasso:

Line drawings past Picasso: a serial of drawings showing the progression from realistic form to a few curving lines. Tone and detail accept been eliminated: the bull stripped back to its essence.

Andy Warhol:

Popular artist Andy Warhol is famous for his brightly coloured silkscreen artworks; however he was also a rampant drawer – often filling sketchbooks. He won many prizes for the drawings he produced in high schoolhouse. The illustrations shown above – comprising of slightly smudged and blotchy black lines – have Warhol's typical off-beat way. They were completed using a basic printmaking technique: pressing sheets of paper into a wet ink drawing, transferring the image to the second sail.

David Hockney:

Famous artist David Hockey has produced many line drawings – ofttimes portraits. He draws in silence, with precision and care, moving a black ink pen beyond the paper rapidly. This portrait – a snapshot into Hockney'southward life – is entitled 'Eugene and Henry'.

Vincent van Gogh:

Most famous for his postal service-impressionist paintings, Vincent van Gogh also produced over a thousand drawings. In this pen and pencil line drawing, 'Cottages With a Woman Working in the Foreground', we meet the stylistic swirling of line in the trees and clouds that is so characteristic of his well-known paintings. Capturing the swirling of the trees and the motion of the clouds, van Gogh represents the light falling across the textured landscape with quick, confident mark-making.

Leonardo da Vinci:

These precise anatomical line drawings past famous artist Leonardo da Vinci show the internal structure of a man scalp, skull and eye. Facial proportions are carefully mapped out and documented in the image to the right; the drawings surrounded by notation and enlarged details.

Aaron Earley:

Cantankerous-profile line drawings past Aaron Earley: graphite lines of various weights trace over the contours of the face, clearly conveying emotion, despite the lack of tone and detail.

Peter Root:

Gimmicky line drawings by Peter Root: a series of direct graphite lines is used to create a curvaceous, flowing abstract form.

Maurizio Anzeri

Contemporary line drawings by Maurizio Anzeri: a portrait overlaid by a mass of radial lines: veiling the image inside.

Tornwing:

Cantankerous profile line drawings by Tornwing: black lines of different thicknesses flow effectually three-dimensional forms. The strong contrast in this drawing creates a striking graphic image.

Karolina Cummings:

Gestural line drawings by Karolina Cummings: dramatic and bright, capturing form in rapidly scrawled, fluid line.

Daniel Mathers

Scribbled line drawings by Daniel Mathers: an explosion of insanity with a black pen.

Roz McQuillan:

Sensitive line drawings by Roz McQuillan: the dissimilarity between the rendered siamese cat and the white true cat formed (formed from a few light lines) draws y'all in to this serenity embrace.

Wang Tzu-Ting:

Pencil drawings by Wang Tzu-Ting: an overlapping sequence of drawings, using lines that gauge tonal boundaries, attack a running launder of acrylic. A stunning paradigm.

Nina Smart:

Painterly line drawings by Nina Smart: what appears to exist an abstract artwork of smudged and messy paint lines is, upon closer inspection, an authentic and well-proportioned horse. This work was created using a big pipette, cling wrap and a pallet knife.

Andy Mercer:

Expressive line drawings by Andy Mercer: this mixed media drawing contains a mass of lines that create the illusion of a busy city scene – a tangle of architectural grade.

Vital Photography:

Line drawings by Vital Photography: this image has been pared back to its virtually basic – lines representing the edges of form. Without any background to speak of, this collection of marks is enough to communicate a message with ease.

Doug Bong

Scribbled line drawings by Doug Bong: a portrait beautifully crafted from a tangle of lines.

Matthew Dunn:

Line drawings by Matthew Dunn: graphic in nature, this monkey appears to exist hacked from a wooden lath or lino cutting. White scrawls on a black basis; open up mouth with horror.

Rod McLaren:

Line drawings by Rod McLaren: I virtually didn't give this cartoon another glance – merely for some reason I was transfixed by this black scribble, especially when I saw it was called 'hole-and-corner train drawing'. At that place is wonder in information technology. And null. Endless swirls of nothing.

Andreas Fischer:

Line drawings by Andreas Fischer: the earth it turns: thick, colourful, globular painterly lines.

Nicholas Weltyk:

Blind line drawings past Nicholas Weltyk: a wobbly nonetheless controlled continuous line defines form in this emotive drawing.

Swoon:

Street fine art by Swoon: a tightly woven mesh of paper cut lines.

Liliana Porter:

Experimental line drawings past Liliana Porter: perhaps this person is scrawling across the sky; mayhap they are holding onto a mammoth scribble in the style one might hold onto a wild balloon. Either manner, this drawing is typical of Liliana Porter's artworks. Fun, heady and cool.

Hong Chun Zhang:

Line drawings by Hong Chun Zhang: this huge hair drawing hangs down the wall and drapes beyond the flooring. Impressive in scale, this drawing is the ultimate depiction of long, tightly braided line.

Bruce Pollock:

Line drawings by Bruce Pollock: finely interlocking mesh of lines creates an intricate and mesmerising pattern.

David Eskenazi

Line drawings by David Eskenazi: the boundaries of space and all that is in between.

Matt Niebuhr:

Line drawings by Matt Niebuhr: a shimmer of tightly meshed smudged and erased graphite line.

Albrecht Durer:

Line drawings by Albrecht Durer: a walrus

Il Lee:

Line drawings by Il Lee: whoever knew the scribbling of a bluish biro pen could event in such magic.

Victoria Haven:

Geometric line drawings by Victoria Haven: careful, ordered lines of blue water colours (title: 'all in all is truthful') create the illusion of architectural form; twisting, turning space.

Carne Griffiths:

Line drawings by Carne Griffiths: this work is spun with lines…the fine pencil layer that teases out from beneath the colour; the jagged vertical drips that streak down towards the floor; the carefully etched eyebrows and lashes and pilus.

William Anastasi:

Line drawings by William Anastasi: while blindfolded, Anastasi drew on a wall with graphite for an hour.

Charles Avery

Line drawings by Charles Avery: the illusory combining of hair with perspective lines vanishing towards a horizon make for a powerful epitome.

Did y'all enjoy this article? You may wish to read 11 Tips for Producing an Excellent Observational Drawing.

Amiria has been an Art & Design instructor and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for 7 years, responsible for the course design and assessment of educatee work in 2 high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Education. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Fine art & Design Coursework Assessor.

rawlinsareat1992.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/line-drawings

Share this post