Contours create volumes
inside the outline
Looking for contour paths across objects leads to making marks inside the’ silhouette shape’ of the object . You are then moving away from the outline and the flat shape this produces to lines that respond to the subject of your drawing as a solid thing - a three dimensional form or volume. ( This link to what a line is explains further)
Even the outline of a simple symmetrical form, a sphere, does not tell us a lot about the object itself. Think of the latitude and longitude markings on a globe or the less ordered appearance of a ball of string. Both of these could be drawn without emphasising the ‘circle' of the outside edge and tell us a lot about what the object is. Most of the marks have followed the surfaces inside the ‘outline’
You can see how Albrecht Durer has understood this through his drawing of the movement of material across pillows.
1. Look at the objects around you and find some which clearly show contours ’inside the outline’
· . A rolled up newspaper or magazine where the print follows the curving shape
· the patterns on vases and cups
· the edges of panels on cars
· wrinkles on skin, the way hair moves over a head
· folds in material as it moves over a surface
inside the outline
Looking for contour paths across objects leads to making marks inside the’ silhouette shape’ of the object . You are then moving away from the outline and the flat shape this produces to lines that respond to the subject of your drawing as a solid thing - a three dimensional form or volume. ( This link to what a line is explains further)
Even the outline of a simple symmetrical form, a sphere, does not tell us a lot about the object itself. Think of the latitude and longitude markings on a globe or the less ordered appearance of a ball of string. Both of these could be drawn without emphasising the ‘circle' of the outside edge and tell us a lot about what the object is. Most of the marks have followed the surfaces inside the ‘outline’
You can see how Albrecht Durer has understood this through his drawing of the movement of material across pillows.
1. Look at the objects around you and find some which clearly show contours ’inside the outline’
· . A rolled up newspaper or magazine where the print follows the curving shape
· the patterns on vases and cups
· the edges of panels on cars
· wrinkles on skin, the way hair moves over a head
· folds in material as it moves over a surface
- old shoes and laces
3. Try to create a sense of volume with just a few contours.
