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Description

This is a brief demonstration of an exercise called cross contour drawing. There are other types of contour drawing exercises definitely worth trying but cross contour is very useful for understanding the details of form and plane changes. It's a bit like running your pen over the subject, only less messy.
Try tracing over an image first. Pick something that has an element of foreshortening , some interesting curves and creases. Then try from life. After just a few tries, you'll be able to read the form far more effectively than before.
Remember, you have to put the time into these exercises if you want to improve at a good pace. There are no shortcuts. Trying different exercises are the best way to develop your "drawing fitness"... and 5 minutes is better than nothing at all!

Description

This is a brief demonstration of an exercise called cross contour drawing. There are other types of contour drawing exercises definitely worth trying but cross contour is very useful for understanding the details of form and plane changes. It's a bit like running your pen over the subject, only less messy.
Try tracing over an image first. Pick something that has an element of foreshortening , some interesting curves and creases. Then try from life. After just a few tries, you'll be able to read the form far more effectively than before.
Remember, you have to put the time into these exercises if you want to improve at a good pace. There are no shortcuts. Trying different exercises are the best way to develop your "drawing fitness"... and 5 minutes is better than nothing at all!