Understanding Contour Drawing: What It is and How to Practice It

Definition of Contour Drawing

A contour drawing is an art technique in which the artist sketches the outline and significant edges of a subject using continuous or broken lines. The primary focus is on capturing the subject’s overall shape, mass, and volume, rather than intricate details, textures, or shading.

While the word “contour” comes from the French for “outline,” in art, contour lines can also suggest three-dimensionality by following not only the outer edge but also the visible interior surfaces that define the form.

Purpose of Contour Drawing

• Training the Eye: It helps artists learn to see more accurately by focusing on the essential edges and shapes of a subject.
• Enhancing Observation and Hand-Eye Coordination: By carefully analyzing angles, proportions, and relationships as you draw, you develop stronger connections between what you see and what you render.
• Understanding Structure and Space: Contour drawing emphasizes the essential structure and form of the subject, helping artists understand how objects occupy and interact with space.

Understanding the Variations (and the Confusion)

There are some variations of contour and gesture drawings, and definitions can sometimes overlap, leading to confusion. While “contour” literally means “outline,” in the context of art, it can refer to both the outer edge and important interior lines that define the form. These can range from highly detailed to extremely simplified approaches. 

To maintain clarity, this post will introduce only the basic contour approaches that emphasize the outer shape and avoid detailed interior lines.

Blind Contour Drawing:

You draw the contours of the subject without looking at your paper, keeping your eyes fixed on the subject and allowing your eyes to follow the edges slowly . This technique trains observation and hand-eye coordination.

It is very natural that the beginning point and ending point don’t meet. Don’t get discouraged by it.

Basic Contour Drawing:

This method focuses strictly on the outer edge of the subject, often using a single, continuous line. Occasional glances at the paper are allowed. If more than one item involves, consider them as one shape only looking at the outer edges.

* Again, there are other types of contour drawing that include interior lines as in Egon Schiele’s drawing:

Continuous Line Drawing:

Here, you draw the subject with one unbroken line, not lifting your pencil until the drawing is complete. This can be done while looking at the subject or the drawing, and encourages intuitive, fluid mark-making.

Gesture Drawing:

Unlike contour drawing, gesture drawing is about capturing the movement, energy, and overall action of the subject, rather than its outline.

It’s often used for drawing figures, animals, or any subject in motion, but can also be applied to still objects and architecture as seen in Frank Gehry’s architectural sketches.

Helpful Tips:

• Focus on Edges: Pay close attention to the edges and contours of the subject, as these define its shape and form.
• Embrace Imperfection: Don’t worry about making mistakes or achieving a perfect drawing. These exercises are meant to improve your skills and observation, not to create finished artworks. Draw multiple drawings on a single page – you can save paper and create more interesting images.
• Relax and Go Slowly: Move your hand slowly and steadily, aiming for accuracy.
• Practice Negative Space: When drawing multiple objects, try to see and draw the overall outline as a single shape. This helps you focus on the negative space around and between objects, which is a valuable skill in drawing.
• Vary Your Subjects: Practice with a variety of subjects, from simple objects to more complex forms, to build your confidence and skill.

Video Instruction: