What Am I Learning From This Unit?

We are going to be using a specific type of line drawing to record the proportional
relationships in our hands. These line drawings will break up the picture plane or
drawing paper into both positive and negative or background shapes. We will then use
patterns to fill in the negative spaces. The difference or contrast between the line
drawings and patterns will allow the hands to "pop".

Student Example
Table of Contents
Step One- Contour Line

Contour Hand Drawing Example

In contour line drawing we are looking to create a continuous line that not only
describes the outer edge of a form or its outline, but the edges of details and
shadows/highlights as well.

What Does Contour Line Look Like?

● 1 continuous or non-stop line

● Don't lift up your pen up while drawing
● Draw super extra SLOW (I think this is the hardest part)
● Look at the object you are drawing, not the drawing itself. Contour is about
observation. Everything you need to know about your hand or item is on
your hand or item.
● Don't outline- draw the smaller shapes or parts and build the form instead
● Draw shadows and highlights as shapes
● Start in the middle and work your way out
Your “Me” Items

Our hands are unique to us-- no one else has our hands. In fact, our fingerprints
can be used to identify us! So, we can think about drawing our hands as a way to
create a self-portrait. To complement this idea, we are going to be holding 3 or
more objects that tell the viewer more about us.

Think about things you enjoy, are good at, or accomplishments you are proud of.

Ideas: Math (compass, protractor) / Art (paintbrush, crayon, paint tube) / Nature
(leaf) / Ribbons, medals / Lego or small toy/ etc

Sports are a bit harder but think about the laces for your shoes, cleats, or skates.
Ribbons. Medals or a varsity letter also work.
Step Two- Create a Layout

Using Our Practice

We will neatly cut out all of our practice hands. Thinking first about the project
criteria, create a layout or visual map of your final project. When you have met all
the requirements and like the design, tape or glue the hands in place. We will use
this layout as a map when we begin our final project drawing.

I will demonstrate this in class for you. ​

Criteria for designing the layout with the hands:

1. There must be a minimum of 2 hands, you can draw three (but your third
object can be on it’s own)
2. Your hands must come in from the sides of your paper (this way it looks like
the arm is coming in from the sides.)
Step Three- Contour Hands on Final Paper

Drawing Process

After you create your practice hands, you can use these as a guide to help you
draw on your final paper (you can trace the hands or look at them as a map)

-I will demonstrate this when the time comes.

Step Four- Discovering Patterns

What Do I Need to Do?

● A pattern is anything that has a repeating element.

● Go around your house or outside around your neighborhood, explore
your space and look for interesting patterns. We will collect these
patterns in the form of rubbings.
● We will take our newsprint paper that was provided in your material
folders (grey light paper), lay the newsprint on top of these objects that
can include anything that has repeating elements (same shapes, sizes)
think about textures. Are they bumpy or smooth? (Actual Texture)
 ● When laying the newsprint over these objects that include patterns, take
your Ebony Pencil that was included in your material kit and rub the
pencil over the newsprint, collecting these rubbings.

1. Collect 9 interesting patterns around your house inside or outside, explore

your space.

2. Place the newsprint over interesting patterns you find, laying the newsprint
on top of these objects or spaces.

3. Use a pencil and rub over the patterns to transfer them to your newsprint
paper.

(I will demonstrate this to you)

Examples of collection of pattern

Step Four- Pattern Bank

● Now that you all have collected 9 different rubbings of patterns that you
found around your house or outside your house, exploring your space,
laying the newsprint on top of these objects that include anything that
has repeating elements (same shapes, sizes), we are able to move onto
the next step of using pattern.
● From these patterns that you have collected with these rubbings, you
want to recreate these patterns using observational drawing, like we
have been doing while looking at our hands, although you do not need to
use contour drawing. We want to look at these patterns, making sure to
observe all of those details that the patterns hold and try our best to
draw these patterns from looking at our rubbings.
● This is when we will be using our pattern banks, having a spot for each
rubbing of pattern that you have collected.
● We must first learn to slow down and observe. Your brain doesn't simply
start off with any real knowledge of all the kinds of patterns that exist in
the world, so you don't really have much to pull from when you're looking
to add detail to a drawing.
● Sure, you've seen all kinds of patterns in your daily life, but have you
really taken any time to really look at them? In all likelihood, you saw
them at a glance, your brain tucked the smallest bit of that information
away while throwing away that which it deemed unimportant, and you
went on with your life.
● You're going to put a lot of time into really identifying the visual elements
that exist on these patterns you have collected, whatever makes it look
smooth, rough, etc. as well as how those elements are arranged.
● Once you've done that, you'll go ahead and make a mark or two on your
page to represent a specific feature you identified that you want to
transfer over, and then you're going to go back to studying it, making
 sure you are drawing the pattern correctly. This should be easy since
pattern is repeating!

(Again, I will demonstrate this)

(My pattern bank, I did a lot more to show variety of pattern options)
Step Five- Adding Pattern to Background