This document provides instructions for a contour drawing project with three layers. The objectives are to draw objects at varying scales using contour lines in both negative and positive shapes to create rhythm and movement. The first layer uses a low horizon line and strong vertical composition. The second layer uses a high horizon line and strong vertical. The final layer uses diagonal lines to form a triangle composition. Students are directed to draw modified contour outlines on each compositional plane and paint the negative spaces with gesso to build up overlapping layers that create a sense of rhythm across the three drawings.

1. Contour Washes Intro to Art - Unit 1 Drawing What You See

3. A strong composition makes great art!

4. The artist guides your eye through Implied Lines .

5. Choosing a Picture Plane. Low Horizon Line with a Strong Vertical High Horizon Line with a Strong Vertical Classic Triangle

6. The main emphasis is on the low horizon line with a strong vertical. Pieter Breugel the Elder. Hunters in the Snow . (1565)

7. The main emphasis is on the low horizon line with a strong vertical. Pieter Breugel the Elder. Hunters in the Snow . (1565)

8. For your first layer use a low horizon line and strong vertical for the composition.

9. Using a modified contour, draw your object using alternating poses and proportions across the compositional lines.

10. Using a gesso & water mixture, paint in the negative spaces.

11. Outline the object with a thin brush and use a wide brush for the wide areas. Paint on the gesso mixtures with paint strokes which all go in the same direction. The gesso will dry lighter than when you first apply it.

12. For the next layer, the main emphasis is on the high horizon line with a strong vertical. Ramon Casas. Portrait of Eric Satie . (1891)

13. For the next layer, the main emphasis is on the high horizon line with a strong vertical. Ramon Casas. Portrait of Eric Satie . (1891)

15. Rhythm is movement in which some elements recur regularly. Like a dance it will have a flow of objects that will seem to be like the beat of music. Repetition .

16. Paint the negative space in the second layer just like the first layer was painted. Ignore the first layer and paint over it. The overlapping layers will create a sense of rhythm. Some areas of the first layer will be painted over and others will not. Remember the goal is RHYTHM not details.

17. In the final layer, the main emphasis is made by diagonal lines that create a triangle. Pablo Picasso. Guernica . (1937)

18. In the final layer, the main emphasis is made by diagonal lines that create a triangle. Pablo Picasso. Guernica . (1937)

20. Use a small brush and paint the positive objects with straight gesso.

21. To complete the project and give the modified contours definition, use a thin black pen to draw the contour outlines of the final layer. DETAIL is important here!