Fine Arts Performance Descriptors and Classroom Assessments

Contour Drawing
1. In order to understand the sensory elements, organizational principles and expressive
qualities of the arts (25A), understand processes, traditional tools and modern technologies
used in the arts (26A), and apply skills and knowledge necessary to create and perform in one
or more of the arts (26B), students should experience sufficient learning opportunities to develop
the following:
• Demonstrate an understanding of contour and cross contour drawing,
• Create unique specific effects using a combination of media, tools, and processes, and
• Create the illusion of depth in a 2-D artwork.
Note: It is important those students have the following experiences prior to the assessment:
Discuss the left brain and right brain research as outlined in "Drawing on the Right Side of the
Brain." Several exercises from the book may be used.
• Demonstrate, using the overhead projector, the process of blind and modified blind
contour drawing, using cross contours to create the illusion of depth.
• Practice, with guidance, drawing their hand. Emphasis should be on attention to
details, slow and careful drawing, focusing on the connections between pencil tip and
eye movement.
• Do a number of practice drawings of their shoe and various complex objects offered.
These will take several class periods. Vary the length of time allowed. Discussion
will include terms such as proportion, expression, line quality (with varying pressure),
creation of shadows, placement on the paper, craftsmanship and the issue of
embellishment, originality, detail, elaboration. These items will be discussed during
critique period at the end of each day’s class. Examples of contour drawing by various
artists will be observed and discussed.
• Continue to practice unique, realistic drawings using contour drawing. Each day, one
hand will be drawn, plus many other objects.
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