Drawing Techniques

Glossary of terms

Graphite

A crystalline form of carbon that was used at first as either a lump or sharpened point set into a metal holder. Although one of the finest lodes of graphite was discovered in 1560 at Borrowdale, England, extraction of the mineral was so highly regulated that its continued high price prevented any widespread usage until the late seventeenth century. In 1662, Friederich Staedtler began to manufacture pencils in Nuremberg. The strokes produced by graphite leave a line that has a relatively dark metallic luster, similar to lead point. The early misidentification of graphite with lead was not to be scientifically disproved until 1779, by which time the misconception that lead and graphite are one and the same had already entered modern-day usage--hence the confused nomenclature of lead pencil.

Form

Form describes volume and mass, or the three-dimensional aspects of objects that take up space. Forms can and should be viewed from many angles. When you hold a baseball, shoe, or small sculpture, you are aware of their curves, angles, indentations, extensions, and edges of their forms.

Shape

An area that stands out from the space next to it or around it because of a defined or implied boundary, or because of differences of value, colour, or texture. Shape: geometric and organic shapes; positive and negative shapes; abstract shapes; and outlined shapes. Shape is an area that is contained within an implied line, or is seen and identified because of color or value changes. Shapes have two dimensions, length and width, and can be geometric or free-form. Design in painting is basically the planned arrangement of shapes in a work of art.

Line

The path of a moving point, that is, a mark made by a tool or instrument as it is drawn across a surface. A line is usually made visible by the fact that it contrasts in value with the surface on which it is drawn. It has length and width, but its width is very tiny compared to its length, and often suggests movement in a drawing or painting.

Shade

The darker value on the surface of an object that gives the illusion that a portion of it is turned away from the source of light.

Perspective

Any graphic system used to create the illusion of three-dimensional images and/or spatial relationships on a two-dimensional surface. There are several types of perspective (linear, atmospheric, and projection system).

Isometric

A mechanical drawing system in which a three dimensional object is presented two-dimensionally; starting with the nearest vertical edge, the horizontal edges of the object are drawn at a thirty-degree angle and all verticals are projected perpendicularly from a horizontal base.

Horizon line

The line in a perspective drawing where the sky meets the ground. A drawing inside a room has an eye level line. The placement of the line on the picture plane depends on the vantage point of the artist. If the artist is low to the ground, the Horizon Line is low on the picture plane an so on.

Tria markers

A tria marker matches a specific Pantone color and has three different polyester nib styles to create with: broad, fine, and ultra-fine.

Vanishing point

In linear perspective, a point at an infinate distance on the Horizon Line at which any two or more lines that represent parallel lines will converge. This principle is based on an optical illusion best illustrated by railroad tracks that appear to converge on the Horizon.

Foreshortening

A drafting illusion in which, depending on the viewer's point of view, an object, or part of an object is distorted to imply the compacting of space.

Ground plane

The Ground Plane is at 90 degrees to the picture plane. (the picture plane is the flat two-dimensional surface on which we draw or project an image in perspective)

Economy of line

To capture the essence of an idea in just a few strokes of the pen. Cartoons are an example of drawing with great economy of line.

Isometric ellipse

The distance across the largest dimension is known as the major axis. This axis would be used to find the outside of a cylinder. The distance across the smallest dimension is known as the minor axis. This axis doubles as the isometric thrust line or the line along which parts would explode.

Isometric grid

A network of evenly spaced lines drawn at 30, 90, and 120 degrees. Paper preprinted with this grid is used to sketch isometric drawings.