Contents
An artist’s lines are like their handwriting. They have a big impact on the look and feel of a drawing. Smooth, confident lines are usually more appealing than scratchy or squiggly ones. Simple lines that lend themselves to being drawn in a single stroke can be grouped into three categories:C-curves, S-curves, and straights. You can remember these with the acronym CSI, where the “I” stands for the straight line. C-curves bend in one direction, like the letter C, while S-curves bend one way and then back the other, like the letter S, and straights do not bend at all.
CSI lines are best drawn from the shoulder. When writing by hand, we usually move the pen with our fingers and wrist. In drawing, however, long and smooth lines come from moving the entire arm at the shoulder. For shorter lines, movement from the wrist or elbow can work. Lines drawn from the shoulder are generally smoother and more confident, while lines made with only finger movement often look short and scratchy.
Drawing only with CSI lines may seem restrictive at first, but there’s actually a wide variety of lines you can create within these three types. Most lines you’ll ever need can be made with a C-curve, an S-curve, or a straight. To describe edges and contours with CSI lines, an extra step must be taken. Start by observing the contour of your subject, as you did in the blind contour and cross-contour exercises. Before drawing, pause and think about how the contour you see could be simplified into one of the three CSI lines. Then, draw the line confidently, using the control you’ve developed through practice. With practice, this process will become automatic. When your drawing requires a more complex line, it can help to think of it as a combination of CSI lines.
Lesson 6 Assignment
CSI Lines
It is important to practice your line control. Although line quality improves naturally with experience, it can be practiced deliberately as well. Work on drawing smooth, controlled CSI lines. Practice drawing the same line repeatedly, either directly over it or parallel to it. This helps train precision and consistency. Many artists, myself included, use line practice as a daily warm-up. The more you practice, the more confident your lines will become.
CSI Line Drawing
In this exercise, follow a contour with your eye as you did in the blind contour exercise, but do not draw immediately. Instead, pause to think about how to best represent the path your eye followed using a C-curve, S-curve, or straight line. Once you have decided, make the stroke with the confidence you’ve developed by practicing your CSI lines. With practice, this decision-making process will become automatic. You may look at your page while drawing. Some contours may be complex and require multiple lines to capture. In those cases, plan the combination of C-curves, S-curves, and straights you need before drawing them. You can work with both outside contours and cross-contours. Evaluate your drawing based on how well your lines describe the contours and surfaces of your subject. Again, it is fine if your proportions are off. The goal is to train your eye and line control, not accuracy.
- Spend 5 minutes practicing CSI lines then spend 25 minutes doing the CSI Line Drawing exercise. You may wish to make practicing CSI lines part of your regular warm-up.
- Spend 50 to 55 minutes drawing your object to the best of your current ability. If you finish before your study session ends, draw it again until your time is up. If you can’t finish within one session, continue working on it in the next. You can also take extra time if you want.
- Reflect on your results and write about what went well and what you could improve next time.
Optional:
- Share your weekly study plan in the #accountability channel on the course discord server.
- Post your exercise results in the #exercises channel if you’d like feedback.
- Share your drawing and photo in the #course-critique channel to get feedback from the community.
If you have any questions about the course, you can ask in the #course-help channel.