Initial gesture lines define the very general, overall action of the pose. Initial Gesture Lines in a Figure Drawing Let’s examine the functions a little deeper. Penny Lines are cheap, but the rule is, you cannot use them to define specific, nameable body parts. If we can name the body part (deltoid, Achilles, thumb, etc.), we use the dollar line, and we do it in as few lines as possible because Dollar Lines are not cheap! Prominent anatomical information such as muscles and tendons, joints, and other bony parts Charcoal on paper, 5-minute poseĮverything we draw with the dollar line, we commit to.The Penny Lines must therefore first establish the general placement of body parts and how they fit together, and the Dollar Lines are then used to define the specifics. Obviously, since we are making an effort not to be wasteful with these lines, we need a degree of precision. At a dollar a stroke, they are considerably more expensive than the Penny Lines. They are the finish lines that define anatomy, outside contour, and other specific information.
In contrast, Dollar Lines are darker, and drawn with maximum intent. Lines that indicate estimated placements of body parts.Massing simple, general, big shapes (without specific anatomical features).Initial gesture lines or “action” lines.Penny lines are assigned the following functions: We can then execute every line with intention, rather than mindlessly going through the motion hoping a body will emerge. Clearly defining these functions allows us to know exactly what a line’s purpose is. The important thing is to limit the functions to construction, and not description, of specific anatomical data. “What’s the big deal? I use light lines in the beginning anyway,” you might ask. Drawn very lightly and loosely, they are primarily used in the beginning of a figure drawing for construction. You can think of them as the rough draft lines. Penny Lines are so called because they are cheap, disposable lines. In an attempt to demystify the process and achieve economy of line, I’ve identified various functions that lines must perform, and sorted them into two categories.Įxpanding on the economy concept, I named these categories Penny Lines and Dollar Lines. After all, what would be the point of drawing five lines to define a muscle, if I can do it in one? It’s like verbal communication if you can make a clear statement using fewer, well-chosen words, that’s preferable to rambling on and on to get the same idea across. In my own drawing, I try to be as efficient as possible by packing a lot of information and intent in each line, and I encourage my students to do the same. Basically, it means that we should strive to draw efficiently by using fewer lines to say what we need to say, rather than a lot of unnecessary lines that lack a sense of intent. The concept of the economy of line is a familiar one to anyone who has studied figure drawing.
Contour lines in art definition how to#
What if you had to pay for every line you drew? Learn how to use “Penny Lines” and “Dollar Lines” to give each mark a hierarchy of importance in your next figure drawing.
You can also see the cross-contour lines across his upper arm and his hip. You can see the straight lines I used to find the angles of the figure on the right, in his upper arm, and his leg.
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