Read about how to approach contour drawing from artists, Robert Kaupelis and Charles Reid.

A note about readings: The books presented are recommended as exceptional resources for teachers and students of art. Opening the pdf files in adobe acrobat offers more accessibility options. These works are copyrighted. The excerpts presented are for the sole purpose of educating teachers. Please do not copy or distribute materials.

1. In this excerpt from Robert Kaupelis' Experimental Drawing, he describes how contour, gesture, and modeled drawing are fundamental modes of working for all artists. Pay attention to the descriptions of blind contour drawing, partial peek, cross-contour, and gesture drawing. Treat yourself to the section on "divergent artistic behavior" on page 15 (last page on pdf).

Read pages 15 - 33 (chapter 2).

Open the pdf below.

ExperimentalDrawingKaupelis15p33.pdf

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Kaupelis, Robert. Experimental Drawing. Reprint edition. New York, Watson-Guptill, 1992. Pages 15-33.

2. In this excerpt from Charles Reid's Pulling Your Paintings Together, he describes three ways of seeing: contour drawing, rhythm or relationship drawing, and drawing with mass. Pay attention to the descriptions of how he draws, inside and outside shapes, lost and found edges, and connecting to the background.

Read pages 9-19.

Open the pdf below.

PullPaintTogetherReid9p19.pdf

Reid, Charles. Pulling Your Paintings Together. New York, Watson-Guptill, 1991. Pages 9-19.

Explore the study of line quality and its application in the next two resources.

3. Read about line quality and an "artist's handwriting" in this excerpt from Bert Dodson's Keys to Drawing. Consider how line quality effects the visual communication of the drawing. Reflect on your own use of line quality.

Read pages 40-59.

Open the pdf below.

KeysDrawingDodson40p59.pdf

Dodson, Bert. Keys to Drawing. Cincinnati, OH, North Light Publications, 1985. Pages 40-59.

4. Watch this short video about artist Heather Day. Listen to what she says about looking for an "honest brushstroke."

ON A RIVER / HEATHER DAY on Vimeo