Contour Line Drawing

Practice contour line in this art lesson: contour line drawing.

🎨 Studio Brief #3

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

Don't lift the pencil until you're done.

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

Colored pencilsDrawing paper

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

🤯 The pencil was invented over 400 years ago. Same idea ever since.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

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

You did it!

Next: One-Point Perspective: A Road 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: Sketch one thing in your house you've never really looked at before.

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

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Contour Line Drawing

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

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Contour Line Drawing

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