Blind Contour video

Upside down contour drawing

Contour still-life

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Blind Contour and Contour drawing

The purpose of a contour drawing, also known as a line drawing, is to emphasize the mass of a subject.  Artists should be looking mostly at the subject rather than their drawing.  There is no "shading" with a contour drawing but the quality of the line should indicate a light source.  For example, a heavy dark line can indicate a shadow while a light thin line will indicate little contrast.

A blind contour is just like a contour with one distinct exception.  While creating a blind contour, the artist does NOT look at his/her paper and does not lift the drawing tool off the paper.