Blind Contour Portraits
My first #Kick365 Day Challenge of Sketching People
I didn’t track my sketches for this challenge as I was doing them, so I figured it was going to be easier to go through my Facebook posts on Kick in the Creatives, than trying to go through all my sketchbooks to track down the original sketches.
Why I did this 365 day sketch challenge
The reason I want to commit to a year of sketching people is to explore different sketching styles. I want to find a sketching style that feels the most natural. I also want to develop stronger technical drawing skills for sketching people, especially perspectives and accurate proportions. But, most importantly, I want to play. It’s through experimentation that we can really appreciate the value of getting lost in art. It’s not about the results, it’s about the journey. Welcome Aboard!
My Blind Contour Process
I thought that by doing blind contour sketches to begin this year-long challenge, it would be a good way to be playful and loosen up. And not take sketching too seriously.
My approach to blind contour is:
- Sketch a simple blind contour sketch using a pencil.
- Add additional details while looking at the sketch
- Add watercolour
In many of these sketches I drew simple mouths, but then added some wild and wonderful teeth! It’s this ability to add an injection of imagination into the second sketching stage that can really deliver a sense of playfulness into the final portraits.
Having Fun. And Learning. A winning combination.
Blind Contour is Good Practice for Urban Sketching
These blind contours (or maybe they’re technically half-blind contours) – are meant to hone your hand eye coordination. It’s a good sketching method for urban sketchers to practice, because when you’re sketching people from life, you have to spend a lot of time looking at the subject your sketching and not at your paper. So the more practice you get at sketching without look, the more confident your urban sketches will be.
Day 1 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour Sketch from Photo
Day 2 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour Sketch from Photo
Day 3 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour Sketch from Photo
Day 4 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour Sketch from Photo
Day 5 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour Sketch from Photo
Day 6 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour Sketch from Photo
Day 7 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour Sketch from Photo
Day 8 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour Sketch from Photo
Day 9 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour
Day 10 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour
Day 11 of #Kick365 Sketching People – Blind Contour
Blind Contours are the gift that keeps on giving. You learn along the way, you hone your sketching skills, and you can have a little fun doing it. What’s not to love.
