Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.

7
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 66.2
Drawspace Curriculum 2.1.R2 - 5 Pages and 9 Illustrations

Drawing
Feathered and
Continuous Lines
Techniques for rendering two types of lines used
in classical and contemporary drawing

Great musicians begin with several months of practicing scales; great artists begin with
many hours of drawing different types of lines. Drawing feathered lines (Figures 1 and 2) is
a basic skill and comes naturally to many aspiring artists.

Figure 1 Figure 2

ArtSpeak

Feathered line: A series of short lines that appear to

be a single line.
Continuous line: A line that is rendered without
lifting the medium from the drawing surface.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-00-7
Copyright © 2011 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
2 Drawspace Curriculum 2.1.R2

Conversely, mastering the art of drawing continuous lines (Figures 3 and 4) often requires
several weeks of practice. Not quite boring – more like having to learn to tie your shoelaces
when all you want to do is run!

Figure 3 Figure 4

As an Aside

Some of the illustrations in this article have been

digitally darkened in Photoshop so you can clearly
see the various types of lines.

Figure 5

Challenge Figure 6

Compare preliminary
sketches of flowers
rendered with feathered
lines to their final
drawings outlined
with continuous lines
(Figures 5 to 8).

ISBN: 978-1-927365-00-7
Copyright © 2011 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 2.1.R2 3

Figure 7 Figure 8

As an Aside ArtSpeak

Some artists prefer to erase Curved line: A line that curves or bends. Curved lines (as in the
feathered lines during or letters “C” and “U”) can be drawn in any direction and be of any
after the rendering of final length.
outlines with continuous Drawing space: The area in which you render a drawing within a
lines. Others prefer to have specific perimeter. It can be the shape of a sheet of paper itself, or
feathered lines left as part a shape you outline on your paper, such as a square, rectangle, or
of the final drawing. circle.

Sketching with Feathered Lines

Sketches of most subjects, including human figures, are usually lined up, or proportioned,
with feathered lines in the initial stages. To feather a line, you very gently sketch a series
of short lines that involves a constant lifting of the pencil from the paper. Each new stroke
of the pencil is rendered adjacent to the previous one to make the proportions increasingly
accurate.
Arrows identify three lightly-rendered straight feathered lines that were used in the
preliminary sketch for the drawing of a young boy (Figure 9).

ISBN: 978-1-927365-00-7
Copyright © 2011 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
4 Drawspace Curriculum 2.1.R2

Figure 9

Challenge

How many curved

feathered lines can you
find in Figure 9?

ArtSpeak

Architect: A person who

uses artistic skills to plan
and design buildings (or
groups of buildings) and
the surrounding property.
Grid: A precise
arrangement of a
specific number of
Straight squares, of exact sizes,
feathered proportionately drawn
lines on both a photo and a
drawing surface.
Set of straight lines: A
grouping of two or more
vertical, horizontal, or
diagonal straight lines,
often drawn parallel to
How to Draw Continuous one another.
Straight-sided shape: A
Straight Lines geometrical object such
as a square, rectangle,
Drawing continuous straight lines is an art unto itself. Each or triangle that is created
line has a beginning and an end and cannot be rendered when three or more
with a bend or curve. You lift your pencil only when the line straight lines connect to
ends. form a shape.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-00-7
Copyright © 2011 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
 Drawspace Curriculum 2.1.R2 5

Before you put pencil to paper, you need

to visualize the direction each line will
take by imagining small dots at either
Caution!
end. Connect the imaginary dots in one
slow but decisive movement.
Don’t draw actual dots on your paper when
To loosen up before you begin drawing, rendering continuous lines. Drawing dots on
shake out your arm, wrist, and hand. your paper tends to add stress to the process
Remember to use you natural hand of drawing straight lines. If your line misses
the mark, you may feel disappointed. Besides,
movement, rotate your paper, and draw
who wants to spend a lot of time erasing a
by moving your arm and shoulder (not bunch of dots from a beautifully-rendered
just your hand). drawing?

When you draw straight lines, sets of

straight lines, or straight-sided shapes,
resist the temptation to use a ruler.
You don’t want to be stuck with the
bad habit of always needing to carry
around a ruler for drawing straight lines, As an Aside
especially on excursions outside.
All artists need to learn to draw straight
lines freehand. The use of a ruler should
be reserved for projects requiring perfect
How to Draw Continuous accuracy, such as grids, drawing spaces,
guidelines, or architectural renderings.
Curved Lines
Drawing smoothly curving lines
demands a graceful strength. Render
your line decisively―but don’t apply
much pressure to your pencil. Curved
lines should flow downward from your Tip!
shoulder to your pencil, and glide
smoothly across your drawing surface. An easy-to-remember process for drawing
continuous curved lines is as follows:
Take your time; accuracy is more
• Visualize each curved line before you
important than speed. The goal is to begin to draw.
end up with well-defined, gently flowing
• Place the point of your pencil on the
curves. paper, balance your hand lightly with
your little finger, and use your whole arm
from the shoulder to gently move in a
curve.
• Draw slowly.
Challenge • Don’t lift your pencil until the line is
complete.

Grab a pencil and paper and try your hand

at drawing feathered and continuous straight
and curved lines.

ISBN: 978-1-927365-00-7
Copyright © 2011 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.