THE BASICS OF DRAWING

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Name: __________________
Types of Lines
A simple line is the building block of a masterpiece.
By grouping and mixing various lines the imaginary
becomes reality.
A line is a straight or curved geometric element
that is generated connecting two or more points.
A drawing is the art technique of representing an
object outlining a figure, plan or sketch by means
of lines

Vertical

Horizontal

Diagonal

Curved

Spiral

Continuous

Squiggle

Broken

An illustration is a visualization such as a drawing

that stresses specific subject matter more than
form or technique.
A cartoon a sketch or drawing, usually humorous,
as in a newspaper or periodical, symbolizing, satirizing or caricaturing some action, subject or person. In Fine Arts, it is a full-scale preparatory design for the production of frescoes.

Sensitive Line
Experiment drawing a line adjusting the
pressure applied to the pencil and ways of
holding the pencil in your hand.

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Scales of Value
Value is the degree of lightness or
darkness of a hue. When analyzing an
art work (usually drawing or painting),
the relation of light and shade is the defined as differing values. The dimension of a shape is defined when adding
light and shadowed area.
A Value Scale shows the full tonal
range of a colour, from its darkest hue
to its lightest hue.
Tone is a quality of colour with reference to the degree of reflection of light.
Much like value, tone is the distinctive quality of which colours differ from one another in
addition to their chroma, for example, a green with a blueish tone.

Value Scales
Fill in values scales below utilizing different types of shading techniques.

Straight lines

Pointillism

Curved lines

Hatching

Organic

Cross-hatching

Repeated Pattern

Random hatch

THE BASICS OF DRAWING

Defining Shapes and Forms
A Shape is a two-dimensional constructed created by lines
that meet or cross other lines. A shape has height and
width.
A Geometric Shape is unnatural in direction, such as circles,
squares, and triangles. We generally see geometric shapes
in architecture. They are crisp and hard.
An Organic Shape is natural in direction, such as leaves,
flowers and rocks. We see organic shapes in nature. They
are free flowing and irregular.
The Form of an object is the external appearance of a
clearly defined area which indicates the three-dimensional
quality or volume of a represented object. A form has height,
width and depth.
An objects Space is the three-dimensional extent in which
objects have relative position and direction.
Practice defining shape by adding value to basic shapes.
1.

Pick the shape.

2.

Determine where you want a light source.

3.

Determine the direction of light from the source.

4.

Indicate this direction with guide lines.

5.

Determine which areas created by the guidelines are

facing or not facing the light source. The sides of the
shape that are not facing the light need to be shaded.

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THE BASICS OF DRAWING

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Pattern & Texture

Much like indicating shape and form, lines are
also combined create textures and patterns.
Texture is the tactile surface quality of an object.
Some characteristics of texture include: rough,
smooth, bumpy and soft. In the fine arts there
are two different types of texture; real and visual.
Real texture is the actual surface of a work, such
as globs of paint, whereas visual texture is the
illusion of having a physical texture, for example
apples painted to look soft.
A Pattern is a type of theme of reoccurring objects and shapes. Patterns are often considered
decorative designs.

Patio Stones

Water Waves

Form from Texture

Experiment creating form by varying values and densities of a texture, such as drawing a flowing patterned
fabric. See below for examples of utilizing hatching
technique for indicating texture.

Basket Weave

Wire Fence

Grid

Rays

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Variety in Pattern and Texture

Linen

Fabric

Floral

Sand

Stone

Gravel

Slate

Marble

Wood

Hair

Cracked Cement

Brick

Stars

Fur

Water

Ice

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Pencil Specific Techniques and Tools

More Pencil Techniques

Drawing Tools

Outline: the line forming or showing the outer edge of a

shape

Pencil: a slender tube of wood, metal or plastic that

contains a core or strip of graphite.

Silhouette: an outline drawing of a person or object

Graphite: a very common mineral, soft carbon occurring

in black to dark gray, with a metallic luster and greasy
feel. It is used in pencil and is available is a varying
grades of hardness (H) and softness (B).

Contour: an outline indicating the general form of the

structure of a three-dimensional form
Gesture drawing: a drawing of the body or parts of the
body in an attempt to capture movement and/or expression

Charcoal: the black part of partly burned wood

Chalk: a white rock which is a type of limestone

Sketch: a drawing or composition that is not intended as Conte: a compressed powdered graphite or charcoal
a finished work, a preliminary exploration representing
mixed with a wax or clay base, usually square in crossthe chief features of an object or scene
section. Also known as Conte sticks or Conte crayons.
Grid Drawing: a method of reducing or enlarging an
image using evenly spaced intersecting horizontal and
vertical lines from one source to another

Stumps: a cylindrical drawing tool usually made of

rolled paper and is tapered at the ends. It is used to
smudge or blend marks made by graphite, charcoal or
conte.

Under drawing: a preliminary sketch made on a surface

prior to applying paint or ink
Eraser: a tool used for removing pencil (and sometimes
pen) markings. They are made from a synthetic rubber
Subtractive or Reductiona method of reducing or
and contain vinyl, plastic or gum-like materials. They are
removing the applied medium to create lines. One exavailable in a firm shaped form or in a putty-like form
ample is using an eraser to remove dark areas to create
called a kneaded eraser.
highlights

Drawing Unit Assignments

Assignment # 1
Completing all the examples in the booklet.
Due Date: ____________
Assignment # 2
Complete a landscape sketch indicating contour lines. This is a preparatory sketch for the final assignment. Be sure to plan out where you intend to use which types of techniques.
Due Date: ____________
Assignment # 3
Complete a finished landscape ink drawing that incorporates all of the following criteria:
8 textures and/or patterns (i.e. brick, wood, stone)
4 shading techniques (i.e. pointillism, cross-hatching)
3 value scales (i.e. from light to dark within one shape)
1 form (three-dimensional)
Due Date: ____________