Cross Contour Steps:

Set up the still life to show space and depth, be sure it is below your eye level.

Step 1: Use a #2 pencil to lightly draw the contour lines of your still life. These lines need to be erased so draw them very lightly (they are dark here so that you can see them easily). Be sure to fill the page, you may create an open composition with shapes expanding beyond the edges of your page.

Step 2: Begin adding your cross contour lines. Remember that the cross contour lines define the shape of the object so that if the shape is flat the lines run directly across the page horizontally or vertically. The original contour sketch lines will disappear at this point and what is left is an implied line at the edge of the shape.

Cross-contour Lines describe an object's horizontal or cross-contours rather than its vertical edge. They emphasize an object's volume.

An Implied Line is one that stops and picks up again. The viewer conceptually fills the breaks.

Steps 3-5: Establish a light source, in this example the light is coming from the upper left. Some areas will be purely reflective and others will simply be lighter. The lines that bend away from the light will be wider. The shadow from the object onto the background is called the cast shadow and moves away in the opposite direction to the light source.

A high contrast shadow has been established in the background - pay attention to creating a convincing perspective. Lines and shapes will become thinner and smaller as they move away from the viewer.

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