CONTOUR LINES AND ZENTANGLE COMBINING REAL AND EXPRESSIVE

CONTOUR LINES Definition: concrete and visible lines that make up an object. Focus on the lines that are there, not imaginary lines You will be practicing drawing your hands in different positions, capturing the shape(s) through contour lines – think of the folds, creases, lines around the fingernails, bumps…

EXAMPLE To the left is an example of a drawing in which the artist did not pick up her pencil. You may want to start off practicing this way. That way you don’t get hung up on the small stuff.

PROPORTIONS AND LINES

TRY DIFFERENT GESTURES

ZENTANGLE What is it? Structured patterns that are not pre- planned but that come organically as you work. They are generally created with black ink on white paper. Each stroke is deliberate and requires your intense focus. There is no up or down, so try to move the paper around What can and can’t you do? Think as you go. Create small and deliberate strokes, one by one. Do NOT use an eraser. If you come to a block or something you’re unhappy with, continue moving but in a different direction.

ZENTANGLE Process: Start with a single continuous “string” that will guide your drawing. This string can be bumpy, smooth, grow large and small, but it should leave room open for embellishment. Then you will go back and add simple additions – lines or shapes. After that, you will continue to embellish your design with even smaller elements. If you choose to use pencil first, once you are done you will go over everything with thin black lines.

HOW WILL WE COMBINE THESE TWO ACTIVITIES? In a pre-determined area on your paper, you should create 2- 3 strong contour drawings of your hand. Consider incorporating some significance as far as the hand gestures go. (Think sign language or recognizable and appropriate gestures). Start in pencil, then go over it in pen. Around your hand gestures, you will zentangle like crazy! Start with a “string”, a simplistic continuous line that can be bumpy, curvy, rounded, zig-zag, etc…… Then go from there, adding smaller and smaller elements. You can zentangle with pencil or you can just go straight to a thin pen. Up to you.