<p>This ultimately comes down to the skills of observation that you acquire through practice. </p>

<p>One of the fundamental purposes of life drawing as an exercise is to train yourself to closely observe what is there rather than what you know or expect to be there. Although we tend to think of our vision as being like a camera, in reality a lot of what we 'see' is constructed in our brains in relation to a whole variety of other information. The brain decided what is important in a scene and makes up quite a lot of the rest and in drawing these expectations can get in the way of properly detailed observation. </p>

<p>Similarly when we perceive a 3 dimensional object, especially something familiar  getting a sense of its form and volume is automatic and unconscious so unravelling the clues which give us that information and translating them onto paper is not necessarily straightforward. </p>

<p>One way to deal with this is to practice drawing objects or collection of objects where we don't have any good reference points or expectations. In terms of looking at contours consider drawing things like piles of clothes crumpled up paper,  driftwood etc you are looking for subjects where you don't already 'know' what they look like. </p>

<p>Lighting can also help, try working in a dark room with just one or two sources of light, this will exaggerate contrast and help to make the relationship between tone and contour clearer. </p>

<p>This isn't just about being able to accurately reproduce grey values like a robot, the real point is to be able to consciously visualise something in 3 dimensions and be able to express that as marks on paper. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-22T21:53:10.623Z
2016-06-22T21:53:10.623Z
Chris Johns
<p>Picture the line that would be created by the intersection of a plane with the shape you are trying to get a contour of. This resulting edge is a (literal) contour line. </p>

<p>For example a contour or topographical map shows elevations across an area. Each line on the map is where a plane at the given altitude cuts the landscape. </p>

<p>The idea is the same with an object you are drawing, but the cutting angle is arbitrary, it could be based on the angle you are observing the object or the angle the light is striking it or anything else and not necessarily tied to height lines. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-04T23:23:54.780Z
2019-02-07T00:06:03.843Z
2019-02-07T00:06:03.843Z
rebusB
<p>Don't think of it as "shade according to contour" but think instead as "shade defines contour". It's the sudtle changes in colour values across the surface of a form which allows the artist to see the true shape of the form. If the value of the shade/shadow remains exactly the same across the entire form then the form would look more like a flat surface then a continuously changing shape. That's the reason art critics comment "a drawing looks flat" is because the artist did not pay close enough attention to the sudtle value changes across a form. Under a fixed light source the values shown on a form will change as the form tilts towards and away from that light source. Value change = Form Change ( so says Scott Robertson) </p>

<p>So when looking at your leaf, apple, or face, (or any object) study closely the "value" of the colour. But only study one small spot at a time. Ask your self if that spot is slightly lighter or slighter darker than the spots around it. Slowly you will build up a shadow map of the entire surface of the object.</p>

<p>To help learn how to access the value of a colour there is a tool called a grey-scale value checker. It's a card when a series of grey scale values on it. The card has a hole punched out one each value. You place the card in front of your eyes and view the object. Lining up the different values until it matches what you see on the object. Over time you will train your eyes to see the sudtle changes without the need of the card.</p>

<p>A very good book, in my opinion, on the subject is "Light for the Artist" by Ted Seth Jacobs, Dover Publications Inc, 1988</p>

<p>If you like the science of things then I would recommend "Vision and Art, The Biology Of Seeing" by Margaret Livingston, Abrams Books, 2014</p>

<p>Oh, and if you like good videos then check out Darryl Tank's 5PencilMethod <a href="http://www.fivepencilmethod.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw7qi7BRCvsr3N58GvsTkSJAA3UzLvUE9pbz6cK_2QtH6ZIU3p7h5ptIhu4gyrmu59K-o9uhoC3THw_wcB" rel="nofollow">http://www.fivepencilmethod.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw7qi7BRCvsr3N58GvsTkSJAA3UzLvUE9pbz6cK_2QtH6ZIU3p7h5ptIhu4gyrmu59K-o9uhoC3THw_wcB</a>
He's got some great free videos on YouTube as well. I think of him as a Samurai/Master Jedi when it comes to the rendering of values in a drawing.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-22T16:25:40.647Z
There is some good information in your answer. Perhaps use some pictures to illustrate your points. Also, you've quoted a few additional sources; what would be good is if you could quote specific phrases/sections from the sources to back up your own words.
BeaglesEnd
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-22T11:55:28.177Z
2016-06-22T14:31:10.320Z
2016-06-22T14:31:10.320Z
John Vukelic
<p>In <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0891348689">Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil</a>, the author says that we should shade according to the contours of an object. As an example he has shown a cone shaped flat bottomed flower pot, which was quite easy to follow.</p>

<p>I want to understand how to find contours of other 3D objects like a leaf, an apple, or a human face?</p>

<p>How do I know where the contours are?</p>

<drawing><pencil-shading>
How to find the contours of a 3D object?
Aquarius_Girl
# How to find the contours of a 3D object?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-21)

In [Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0891348689), the author says that we should shade according to the contours of an object. As an example he has shown a cone shaped flat bottomed flower pot, which was quite easy to follow.

I want to understand how to find contours of other 3D objects like a leaf, an apple, or a human face?

How do I know where the contours are?

**Tags:** drawing, pencil-shading


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-06-22. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Don't think of it as "shade according to contour" but think instead as "shade defines contour". It's the sudtle changes in colour values across the surface of a form which allows the artist to see the true shape of the form. If the value of the shade/shadow remains exactly the same across the entire form then the form would look more like a flat surface then a continuously changing shape. That's the reason art critics comment "a drawing looks flat" is because the artist did not pay close enough attention to the sudtle value changes across a form. Under a fixed light source the values shown on a form will change as the form tilts towards and away from that light source. Value change = Form Change ( so says Scott Robertson)

So when looking at your leaf, apple, or face, (or any object) study closely the "value" of the colour. But only study one small spot at a time. Ask your self if that spot is slightly lighter or slighter darker than the spots around it. Slowly you will build up a shadow map of the entire surface of the object.

To help learn how to access the value of a colour there is a tool called a grey-scale value checker. It's a card when a series of grey scale values on it. The card has a hole punched out one each value. You place the card in front of your eyes and view the object. Lining up the different values until it matches what you see on the object. Over time you will train your eyes to see the sudtle changes without the need of the card.

A very good book, in my opinion, on the subject is "Light for the Artist" by Ted Seth Jacobs, Dover Publications Inc, 1988

If you like the science of things then I would recommend "Vision and Art, The Biology Of Seeing" by Margaret Livingston, Abrams Books, 2014

Oh, and if you like good videos then check out Darryl Tank's 5PencilMethod <http://www.fivepencilmethod.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw7qi7BRCvsr3N58GvsTkSJAA3UzLvUE9pbz6cK_2QtH6ZIU3p7h5ptIhu4gyrmu59K-o9uhoC3THw_wcB>
He's got some great free videos on YouTube as well. I think of him as a Samurai/Master Jedi when it comes to the rendering of values in a drawing.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: There is some good information in your answer. Perhaps use some pictures to illustrate your points. Also, you've quoted a few additional sources; what would be good is if you could quote specific phrases/sections from the sources to back up your own words.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-06-22. Score: 4

This ultimately comes down to the skills of observation that you acquire through practice.

One of the fundamental purposes of life drawing as an exercise is to train yourself to closely observe what is there rather than what you know or expect to be there. Although we tend to think of our vision as being like a camera, in reality a lot of what we 'see' is constructed in our brains in relation to a whole variety of other information. The brain decided what is important in a scene and makes up quite a lot of the rest and in drawing these expectations can get in the way of properly detailed observation.

Similarly when we perceive a 3 dimensional object, especially something familiar getting a sense of its form and volume is automatic and unconscious so unravelling the clues which give us that information and translating them onto paper is not necessarily straightforward.

One way to deal with this is to practice drawing objects or collection of objects where we don't have any good reference points or expectations. In terms of looking at contours consider drawing things like piles of clothes crumpled up paper, driftwood etc you are looking for subjects where you don't already 'know' what they look like.

Lighting can also help, try working in a dark room with just one or two sources of light, this will exaggerate contrast and help to make the relationship between tone and contour clearer.

This isn't just about being able to accurately reproduce grey values like a robot, the real point is to be able to consciously visualise something in 3 dimensions and be able to express that as marks on paper.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-02-04. Score: 2

Picture the line that would be created by the intersection of a plane with the shape you are trying to get a contour of. This resulting edge is a (literal) contour line.

For example a contour or topographical map shows elevations across an area. Each line on the map is where a plane at the given altitude cuts the landscape.

The idea is the same with an object you are drawing, but the cutting angle is arbitrary, it could be based on the angle you are observing the object or the angle the light is striking it or anything else and not necessarily tied to height lines.


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