How Do You Teach Art Students About Shape With Contour Drawings?
Shape is one of the 7 Elements of Art that can be taught in an number of ways. Contour drawing is an excellent way to help students understand the importance of shape as a compositional element while simultaneously helping them to improve their observation and drawing skills. RE-VISIT SHAPE as one of the 7 Elements of Art. Explain that shapes have two dimensions-height and width-and that their contours are defined by lines. Point out several shapes in the immediate environment. Explain contour drawing while drawing the contour of a specific object in the classroom. Check for understanding. Then, demonstrate blind contour drawing emphasizing that students may not look at their drawing WHILE they are drawing, nor may they pick up thier pencil until they are finished. Explain that their pencils should move very slowly along the contour of the object they are drawing “as slow as an ant walking.” Students should practice contour drawing quite a bit. During one 50 minute class period, they c
