Exercise Two: Contour Drawings
What you need: pencil, newsprint paper, timer, black and white watercolor paints, narrow and wide soft bristle brushes, clean jar, watercolor paper, water, drawing board or lap desk, masking tape, paper towels, palette, and two models.

Time Limit: No time limit

Lesson: Contour drawings enable students to “loosen up.” Looking at the figure and not the drawing forces the student to closely study the model. Contour drawings also reinforce the three-dimensionality of the human body even though the artist is drawing the figure on a flat surface.

Materials: pencil, newsprint paper

Project: Set the timer for three minutes. Draw a standing figure using one continuous line. Do not take your eyes off the model as you draw and do not lift your hand off the paper. Draw a seated figure in the same way, then a close-up of a face and finally, a group of two or more figures. Overlap them in some way: one can stand behind the other or one can lean into the face of the other. Keep on practicing by setting the timer for two minutes and draw the face and figure standing or siting in one continuous stroke; then set the timer for one minute and draw the face and figure as you did above.

Repeating these exercises will give you the confidence to draw the human form with accuracy over time.

Your figures will not look realistic; in fact, they may even look funny!