Shade Power Lines on an Antelope
Create a mixed-lineweight drawing of an antelope by outlining contours and adding shading to shapes
Resources:
5.1.R2 The Anatomy of Individual Lines
5.1.R3 Making Lines More Powerful
Supplies:
paper, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencils, pencil sharpener, sandpaper block, erasers
This activity has three sections:
Sketch Antelope Proportions
Outline Contours and Shapes
Shade Mixed-Weight Lines and Shapes
Sketch Antelope Proportions
1. Lightly sketch the antelope's proportions with a 2H or HB graphite pencil.
Follow along with Figures 1 through 3 in sequence.
Figure 1 shows the original sketch in reality. Figures 2 and 3 have been darkened in Photoshop so you can see them clearly.
Figure 1
As an Aside
Artworks with lines of different weights can be traced back to the 17th and 18th centuries BC. This mixed-lineweight drawing of an antelope is loosely based on a section of an ancient fresco discovered in Greece.
Figure 2
Caution!
Do not press firmly on your pencils as you sketch proportions. Lightly rendered lines are easier to erase when you want to make changes.
Figure 3
2. Use a kneaded eraser to lighten your sketch lines.
As an Aside
The legend of the lost city of Atlantis may be based on a gigantic tsunami that resulted from one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history (the Minoan eruption).
It's likely that the citizens of the mythical city of Atlantis were based on the ancient Minoan civilization, which collapsed around the same time as the Minoan eruption.
As an Aside
The beautiful Greek island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea rose from the ashes of an enormous volcanic explosion called the Minoan eruption approximately 3600 years ago.
A treasure trove of archaeological remains were preserved under the volcanic ash.
The fresco with this antelope was one of many that were discovered during excavations conducted by Spyridon Marinatos from 1967 to 1974.
Outline Contours and Shapes
3. Follow along with Figures 4 through 10 to neatly outline the contours and shapes of the antelope.
- Keep your HB or 2B pencil sharpened.
- Examine each illustration carefully before you put pencil to paper.
- Draw slowly with neatly-rendered, continuous lines.
Figure 4
Caution!
Do not draw your outlines on top of your sketch lines. Instead, continuously refer to the illustrations in this section to render more accurate proportions.
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
4. Erase your original sketch lines and redraw any outlines that are inadvertently erased (Figure 10).
Shade Mixed-Weight Lines and Shapes
5. Render mixed-weight lines and shade in the various shapes with graduations of values.
Use whichever pencils and techniques you prefer in order to achieve the same lineweights and values demonstrated in Figures 11 and 12.
Figure 11
Figure 12
Challenge!
Draw another animal or a human figure using the same mixed-lineweight techniques demonstrated in this activity.