Top left: Scribbling
Top right: Hatching
Bottom left: Pressing Hard
Bottom right: Barely Pressing
Various line techniques such as scribbling, hatching, pressing hard or barely pressing, all may achieve interesting effects. Using exterior and interior contours will keep your drawing from looking like a simple outline.
Perhaps the most important factor in a successful line drawing is knowing what to leave out. “Editing” is absolutely necessary to a successful line drawing. Too many lines or too much detail can overwhelm the viewer and overshadow your focal point. Try using soft interior lines as an accent to hard contour lines. Varying the lines will add interest to your drawing.
Top left: Scribbling
Top right: Hatching
Bottom left: Pressing Hard
Bottom right: Barely Pressing
Use Varied Techniques to Enhance Line
The hard line is enhanced with some strategic hatching, creating a slightly tonal feeling.
A Simple Boat
Fine-line pen on vellum
8" × 12" (20cm × 30cm)
Line Drawing Offers Many Creative Possibilities
This is a very casual line sketch of the bear. It exhibits a lot of fluidity and freedom.
Polar Bear
Charcoal pencil on charcoal paper
18" × 14" (46cm × 36cm)