How to Draw Using
Directional Lines

One of the challenges that you may come across while sketching is expressing the right "energy" in your drawings.

You'll see this happen when you draw an object or person that doesn't have your intended sense of motion, or lacking in the right gravity, force or balance.

To help you, here is a demonstration that I give my students, of 3 types of lines that you learn to use in creating energy.

This short excerpt is from Lesson 8 in the course. It helps you understand 1 of these 3 types of lines and is called Directional Lines.

Simply, a Directional Line is that 1-dimensional, imaginary form that denotes direction. Any direction. These lines don't actually appear on the drawing, but they are a powerful way of seeing, and creating movement, resolve and/or importance.

In this first simple example, the direction of a spoon on the table below has 2 imaginary lines (in red) to help you see direction of the 2 parts of the spoon, the ladle and the dipper--and the orientation of the bend between them.

To see these lines without actually drawing them significantly orients your perspective and therefore draw the spoon with better perspective. (Without directional line the spoon may appear twisted).

Here's another use of directional line.

Consider the direction that this man is pointing in this drawing.

Simple right?

Yet, there is another line of direction, or flow, which could easily be missed, and is actually more important.

It is the man slightly leaning forward into the direction of the pointing finger and shows his determination over a more relaxed vertically-standing person. The second red line shows this "flow".

See how subtle that effect is. 

Yet, you know instantly the man is being more forceful than he is relaxed by the forward leaning motion alone. As soon as you "see" that forward line before beginning your drawing, you'll be able to draw his body much more easily as you'll get the desired effect.   (When you are just beginning to draw it DOES make sense to draw that imaginary line).

Here's another usage of Directional Line.

In this painting by Homer Winslow (Fresh Air, 1878) notice the wind coming from the left. How do you know? It flutters the ribbons in her hair and blows back the tassels in her sleeves, dress, and even the foreground leaves.

The clouds help the viewer easily see that this is no doubt, a blustery day. All by applying a single Directional Line.

And by Directional Line, I don't necessarily mean a straight line.

A directional line can be a dramatic sweeping carve, a small curl, or a vast view into a great expanse, whether it's straight or not.

Consider the drawing below demonstrating rather flat directional lines. The directional lines below may represent clouds, rays of light, a horizon, waves, a shoreline, and sand.

This may be used when you want a sense of calm and peace.

But now consider something bolder.

In this second view, you can definitely feel a heightened sense of energy. It may not be calm, but it certainly can move the viewer to vastness far better than the first one.

Start thinking and feeling in terms of Directional Lines that express your energy, mood or desire and those lines will help build for you an emotional navigational blueprint for the picture that is in your mind.    

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What you have read above is only 1 of the 3 types of Lines. Additionally, this is only a portion on the subject of Lines.

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Paul Wagner
Founder, Art Training International
How to Draw Online

 

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