Contour Line Drawing (Part 6)

Practice contour line in this art lesson: contour line drawing (part 6).

🎨 Studio Brief #63

A contour drawing traces the outline and inner edges of an object without lifting your pencil.

🎯 Your mission

See the shape under the thing. Draw the shape first.

⚡ The twist

Draw with your wrong hand for the first 30 seconds.

What you'll learn

A contour drawing traces the outline and inner edges of an object without lifting your pencil. It trains your eye-hand coordination and teaches you to look more than you draw.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

contour lineobservationeye-hand coordination

You will need

Drawing paperErasersPencils (HB and 2B)

Step 1 of 4

Choose a simple object like your hand or a shoe.

Step 2 of 4

Place your pencil on the paper and look only at the object—not the paper.

Step 3 of 4

Move your pencil slowly as your eyes trace the edges. Do not lift the pencil.

Step 4 of 4

Look at your result—it may look wobbly, and that is perfect! Contour drawings have character.

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 Drawing the same thing twice usually makes the second one better — and the third one weirder.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 Picasso said: 'Every child is an artist. The problem is staying one.'

You did it!

Next: One-Point Perspective: A Road (Part 6)All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Project

We'll pick an art project that matches exactly where your skills are right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: Every comic, animation, and architecture started with a quick sketch.

🏆 Try this week: Draw the same object three times this week — once a day, slower each time.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Show me your sketch. What's the part you'd do differently next time?”

📚Share card

Share this art project

Send it to a parent looking for a 15-minute screen-free creative win.

Contour Line Drawing (Part 6)

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

Next Smart Project

Share this art project

Contour Line Drawing (Part 6)

Done with art? Try something else

Your Cart (0)