Gather Materials:
- an artist’s journal, unlined notebook, or piece of paper
- A few round objects to trace circles of different sizes
- pencil or pen
Today’s Exercise
Draw overlapping circles and then fill them with a variety of creative patterns. The circular shape is a container for experimenting with line.
Practicing Variety
- Fill the page with intersecting circles of different sizes by tracing around the edge of circular objects
- Now fill in the circles varying the mark as you go from circle to circle. Use a pencil or pen to create a series of different lines
- Broken Lines
- Scalloped Lines
- Loops and Scribbles
- Jagged Zigzags
- Close Clusters
- Loose Lines
- Interlocking Lines
- Dots
Experiment with varying thicknesses and lengths. Try drawing these lines at different speeds, and notice how the marks change depending on your hand’s pressure and motion
Reflections on the Exercise
- Practicing different styles of marks feels good.
- I think there is a tendency to repeat the same marks over and over. This exercise will help encourage difference in lines.
- It can be interesting when two patterns overlap