Teach Yourself Visually Drawing

Examples of Line

Drawing (continued)

This is an example of a continuous line drawn with a black ball-point pen. In this type of drawing exercise, the pen (or pencil)
is never lifted off the paper, and the goal is to capture the feeling of the pose rather than the details. A close-up of the draw-
ing on the right shows how even the smaller shapes of the figure are drawn to indicate expression more than accurate repre-
sentation.

As an exercise, create a continuous line drawing—first a still life and then, as you gain confidence, try to draw a landscape or
figure.

Figure Study,by Dean Fisher Figure Study,detail

Study of Horses,by Dean Fisher Study of Horses,detail

These are rapid pencil drawings of a horse in motion. The artist had to work quickly as the horse changed its position every
few seconds; as a result, the line is forceful and fast. The line changes from thin and light to heavier and dark, creating a
sense of energy and movement. As you draw moving objects, you may notice similarities appearing in your lines.