titleContour Line Contour Line drawingdrawing

And the Perception of And the Perception of EdgesEdges

“ “ Consider with the Consider with the greatest of care the greatest of care the outlines of every object, outlines of every object, and the character of and the character of their undulations.”their undulations.”

- Leonardo da Vinci- Leonardo da Vinci

titleContour Line Contour Line drawingdrawing

And the Perception of And the Perception of EdgesEdges

Right Brain TheoryRight Brain Theory

Drawing is a learnable, teachable skill. These are the 5 main perceptual skills that are associated

with drawing.

1. The Perception of Edges

2. The Perception of Spaces

3. The Perception of Relationships

4. The Perception of Light and

Shadows

5. The Perception of the Gestalt

What is What is “perception?”“perception?”

It is the process of becoming aware through the 5 senses. In art, obviously we will focus on the perception of sight…unless you’re into

eating paste.

YUM!YUM!

The Perception of The Perception of EdgesEdgesIt’s not just a border or an outline, but any portion of a drawing where two “parts” or “things” come together in the form of a shared boundary.

For instance, look at the wrinkles in your hand. Where the wrinkles come together, a visual line is formed…that is a shared edge, which is also known as a contour.

This is the first component skill of drawing.

And a contour line And a contour line drawing?drawing?

A contour line drawing shows lines that surround and define the edges of a subject, giving it shape and

volume.

More contour line More contour line drawingdrawing

A line in a drawing is usually the border of two things simultaneously- that is a shared edge. In a nutshell…an edge is always a shared

boundary.

Had enough yet?Had enough yet?

The more you practice drawing, especially contour line drawing, the sharper your skills will become.

So get out there and So get out there and practice!practice!

And hey…at least with contour line drawing I’m not asking you to include shading, just lines…we’ll get to

that one later.

“ With slight strokes, take note in a little book which you should always carry with you… Keep these

sketches as your guides and masters.” -Leonardo da Vinci

Visual Diaries-Sketchbooks

3 main purposes:3 main purposes:1.1. To record observationsTo record observations2.2. To experiment with ideasTo experiment with ideas3.3. To make studies for To make studies for

pieces- paintings, pieces- paintings, sculptures, set sculptures, set designs……designs……

Leonardo Leonardo da Vincida Vinci

Studies for future reference

Masters of Line Masters of Line 1414thth Cent. Renaissance Cent. Renaissance

MichelangeloMichelangelo Raphael Raphael da Vincida Vinci