02: Lines
OK, lines... pretty basic right? Really they are, so let's talk about a few ways to use them effectively.
The first and most basic type of line an artist will use is the contour line. If we were to trace the outline of something (like in the image below) we would have the most basic form of a contour line. When drawing these are what separate your objects from the foreground, and from each other. Contour lines are also used to indicate a turn in the form. Again look at the example below. In the second drawing you see that I have added basic contour lines to show some basic features of the face. The nose and jaw aren't separate, but the form of the skin turns, so we indicate that with lines. That does not mean that we want to draw a complete line (like the third icky looking example). Our eyes will fill in the missing sections of the line. Also, unfinished lines will add more interest to the image (unless of course the young man pictured had nasty looking jowels...).
Lines can also be a way to show shading and add depth and form to our drawings. The method I use mainly is hatching. Hatching is when you draw a series of lines close together to create an illusion of value (see image below). Cross-Hatching is just a variation where you use crossed lines to create an added effect of value. One important rule to follow when hatching is to follow the contour of the object. That means hatching on a sphere should curve with the form, this will add to the sense of depth and form. As you can see in the example below the cylinder with the straight lines looks a little flat, whereas the one with the slightly angled/curved hatching looks much rounder.
Last but not least, make sure you start with loose gestural lines when sketching an object. If you try to be too precise you will likely muck up the whole drawing! When sketching loosely you can always go over the lines to correct the form, and focus on the entire object, not just a section of the line. In the last example you can see how I start loose and sketch the entire image before I darken up the contour lines. I don't want to be commited to anything I am not happy with. Once I have a solid contour I can define the form a little more, and end up with a decent sketch!
Next we will be going over perspective, then on to the fun stuff, like heads and fingers.... ooh yeah?
