Contour Drawing

Back Door Tri-Fold Page

I've had some comments lately about contour drawing. I love it  -  it is my kind of drawing.  I don't do blind contour - well, I shouldn't say I don't, but I'll get to that later.

Everyone is very different when it comes to processing information, and I think of different styles or methods of drawing and sketching preferences to be along the lines of processing information.  Don't try to analyze it  - just do whatever works for you.

When I'm drawing, I need to stay connected - literally.  When I'm doing a contour drawing, I'm keeping my pen or pencil on the paper - even if it means I have to back-track, or if I make mistakes and have to keep correcting.  I'm just moving from shape to shape, space to space, with no conscious thought as to what those shapes and spaces are  -  only how they relate to one another.

It ends up being an informal (sloppy?) drawing that usually gets everything in the right place.  The look of it appeals to me, but I'm sure it doesn't appeal to everyone. If I need to have a "cleaner" drawing, I can use the information I have obtained from doing the contour.

When I try to do a sketchy, more precise style of drawing, I actually can't stay connected  -  it feels as if I am skipping around and nothing has anything to do with anything else.  That's just my opinion  -  "real" drawing works for a LOT of people.

The ideal way to do a contour is to be looking at the subject more than the paper. Some people say they draw only when they are looking at the subject.  They stop drawing when they look at the paper to make sure they are making connections, and resume drawing when they look back at  the subject.  I may be doing that too, but haven't really thought about it when I'm drawing. I'll have to pay attention next time.

I find contour drawing helps me edit and keep things simple  -  I'm just moving along and only getting in the things I really want to be there.  I find it pretty easy to skip over the unnecessary objects.



I'll dig out some contour drawings I have in sketchbooks, and put them in a future post.  I'll also talk a bit about blind contour and why I find it useful.

Maybe contour drawing is an acquired taste, so give it a try  -  you might learn to love it!

The Backdoor

Another Watercolor Sketch of the Backdoor

This is done on Nideggen paper which is a light brown color.

I was going to work on sketches and paintings of reflective objects when my class left, but with that sunshine out there, I decided not to waste it.  We have had frost warnings and the flowers are getting straggly, so it's possibly now or never for one more sketch of the area near our back door. There is nothing gorgeous about the door or the plantings, but I like it, and it is a warm, sunny spot to sit and paint.

Someday maybe I will go through all of my sketchbooks and find all of the paintings and sketches I have done of this door.

Lunch at the Bistro

The Back Door, Another Salt Shaker, and Lunch

I have these posts of the pages in my sketchbook journal so out of order! I'm going to post them anyway - it is presumptuous of me to even think you are paying enough attention to know in what order my sketchbook pages come in my life. If the pages weren't dated no one would ever know (except the friends that do these things with me) how mixed up they are.

This week I wrap up two of my spring classes, and begin one of my summer classes. They really begin in earnest next week, with seven classes in four days. I love that! I just go from class to class meeting with wonderful people doing painting, drawing, watercolor journaling . . .

Let the fun begin!

If you are local, take a look at the class line up. Maybe you'll see something that looks good to you.

Inside or Outside

I never get tired of drawing and painting the back door.

This drawing made me think of those puzzles that used to be in the paper where you would draw what was in the squares and end up with a picture.

We had a nice weekend - a "Midget" football game on Saturday morning, installed some handrail posts, rearranged some plants, read a good book - 13 Steps Down by Ruth Rendell, and I made cookies!

Right now there is a thunder storm out over the Bay. I think I'll get in bed with the lights out and enjoy it.

On The Back Porch

On The Back Porch

I am going to have to live with this for a few days to see if it is finished. I have been playing with it too long, and I am having trouble being objective. I posted the sketch awhile ago, and have been trying to get a lot of other things accomplished in the meantime.

This is a painting of the geraniums that I brought in when the first freeze of the Fall threatened. I sat out there on the porch this afternoon with a cup of coffee in the sunshine - first time this year. The storm windows are still closed and I didn't open the doors, but the sun felt wonderful. We will probably still get some snow, but everyday is a little sunnier.

The painting is a watercolor, about 16 X 22, on 300 lb. Arches paper.

Backporch Sketch

I AM WORKING ON IT. I had hoped to have a new painting to post today, but I am still working on it. In the meantime I will post the sketch I am using as reference.
For some reason the painting is going slowly. Yes, that's right, it's the painting's fault.
I just can't seem to get as gutsy (spell checker says "okay" to gutsy!) as I need to with the values - lights and darks, contrasts. The door frames need to be pretty dark because of the light behind them, and the shadows on the floor need to be very dark.
Tomorrow I'll get gutsy.

This is a small painting of our back door that will frame up 8 X 10. I did it from a sketch I had done a couple of years ago. The original sketch (far left) was done in ink and colored pencil.

I'm going to package up the matted painting, a box of my notecards, an autographed copy of my book, and a hand painted bookmark as my donation to The Women's Resource Auction to be held later this month.

I find that I am always much happier with the paintings I do (large or small) from sketches rather than photographs. My sketches have captured only what I want and are already simplified. They are ready and waiting to become paintings.