Teach Yourself Visually Drawing

Discover the Potential of Line chapter 8

This figure is drawn using sepia conté crayon. The drawing has a beautiful, light fluid line that is punctuated by a number of
carefully placed darker accents. These dark accents serve two functions: First, they indicate deeper recesses of the form and in
contrast allow other forms to emerge. Second, they help to create a rhythm in the drawing, based on their spacing from each
other and the variety of sizes leading the viewer’s eye around the drawing in an orchestrated fashion. The orange-brown color
of the conté crayon imparts a feeling of warmth and light to the drawing.

Horizontal,by J. S. Robinson Horizontal,detail

Figure Study,by Frank Bruckmann,

courtesy of the artist

Figure Study,detail

In this charcoal drawing, the
figure has a visual impact, and
its dynamism is created through
the use of decisively placed
heavy lines and marks. In some
instances, the point of the char-
coal is used, and in others, the
line is drawn with the edge of the
point of the charcoal stick. To indi-
cate shadow, the side of the piece
of charcoal, or charcoal stick, is
used to different degrees of light-
ness or darkness, depending on
how softly or firmly the charcoal
stick is pressed against the paper.
Of course, all of these confident
marks have an effect because
they are placed on a sound arma-
ture.Consequent upon this, the
gesture is very believable and nat-
ural looking.