Understanding Contour Lines

Learn how to visualize form on spheres, cylinders, torus, and other organic shapes. We walk through creating latitude and longitude lines and how cross contour lines change directions on a curved object. These skills will significantly help you draw natural forms from life and memory.

[@mikedimples]

Thank you so much for taking the time to plan, record, and upload this. The lecture is so high quality - sharing it like this for free is so generous. You're definitely leaving a positive mark on the art community.

[@thejoydecision724]

It would be kinda cool to have nature journaling ideas or group for the chronically ill/housebound develop over this time, for those of us for whom social isolation doesn’t end. I still love nature, science and art even from bed =D

[@LeahVirsik]

Thank you for this great tutorial on contour drawing! Your energy and the love you feel for drawing is infectious. Thanks for sharing.

[@robbycook4364]

John - this was such an eye opener and done in such an easy fashion. I've really struggled with contour lines for a long time and now I have a Lumux with shape and definition with its head facing away from me; its tail facing towards me; and a lumpy leg in-between. This is really exciting and will change the way I sketch. And because I've used Procreate on my iPad, I can experiment with lines, angles, and shading 'til the cows come home. Thank you very much for putting this tutorial together. It's fantastic!

[@Novstie]

I can't thank you enough for this video. One of the things I struggle with most in my art is form, and I frequently revisit this. Each time I feel like I've gotten a little bit of a better grasp on it!

[@VS-jl1zw]

Absolutely amazing video. The last part was an added bonus. Stay safe everyone!

[@abc4593]

love u ❤thank u very much! love the last drawing u showed us very much!

[@raerae6422]

I appreciate how you explained that cross contour lines can be helpful for placement of facial features and landmarks on objects. Thank you. Im sure you have helped a lot of artists.

[@crack64]

This was invaluable to me. Thank you so very much for making this! I love your enthusiasm.

[@talllala]

Great tutorial! It's made me look at everyday stuff differently and want to draw them. And thanks for the positivity at the end also!

[@NNYDebbie]

Thank you so much for doing these workshops. I am learning so much from them.

[@gailmooney8169]

Thanks! I wish I had you as my art teacher in my youth. Oh the contouring I’d have done. Your energy is infectious. Great ending.

[@SKY-qf8qq]

Thank you. Your such a good teacher and such an inspiration.

[@kbkb3358]

Wow👍 Thank you so much for this video. I have wanted to improve my drawing but am easily overwhelmed by too much detail and technical details at this point. This was such an excellent sweeping overview. There was wonderful information that was helpful and informative without being so much that I felt like I was drinking out of a fire hose. I hope to have some of my children watch this as I feel like it will give them the tools they need to get started in he areas of drawing that they enjoy. Thanks again!

[@risabee6312]

Wonderful! Thank you for this. This is the one thing that always confuses me even though it shouldn’t. Much appreciated!

[@euryanagc]

You have a talent, you really convinced me that this is fun and easy, much more than i was thinking

[@thisistezz3695]

definitely helped me tremendously with the contour lines, you simplified it in a way that anyone could understand. Thankyou so much.

[@birdwatcher1015]

Thank you for a wonderful tutorial. This is my second time watching it as I am now beginning to watercolor birds, they are a little cartoonish looking. I remembered your cross countour lecture, and had an AHA! moment.

[@deepfriedcelt]

Hey man, thank you for this video. This really opened my eyes to envisioning forms. Drawing the Lummax was awesome, I've impressed myself.

[@martaromo83]

You are so sweet. Thanks for sharing this video and your passion for drawing!! All the best. Marta

[@deejay2838]

A great study and well needed at this time in our lives. My sketchbook is ready. Thanks so much ! I always had a bit of a struggle with these lines.💗

[@anahata2009]

I so appreciate you, John Muir Laws. Your lessons and your generosity are equally inspiring. Thank you for this and your many other videos. I'm also enjoying your nature journaling book and refer to it often.

[@henrythegreatamerican8136]

Great video. Tutorials like this helped me improve my own personal drawing grade from an "F" to a "C-" as of this posting. Yea, I was that bad at drawing. If there was a grade lower than an "F" I would have qualified for that grade.

[@sulynncho9299]

11:05 Insane information

[@dcfan333]

Just found you a few days ago and can't get enough of your lessons! I really appreciate this one for sure. Wondering, any tips for (landscape or otherwise) proportion ? Whenever I start to sketch, I always get it wrong and either run out of room, or don't use my page wisely.

[@m.i.miller8008]

Thank you for this awesome video.. so helpful for beginners like myself.

[@cathaire]

You are amazing! Thank you for this.

[@roxanalaver4923]

Thank you for this amazing lesson! ive got such a boost of understanding the shape! Trully the eye opener)

[@yoloswag6242]

Very helpful thanks. I'd recommend using a stabiliser to smoothen the lines, but not required as u demonstrated beautifully

[@ithinkso4430]

Very helpful

[@r.a.escaromd7136]

Thank you. I learned a lot.

[@davemartin1534]

Huh!! I actually got something out of this viedo. Good job.

[@pencUniversityofMinnesota]

AWESOME VIDEO!!!!

[@ratatoskrnuts6354]

This is very helpful, thanks

[@chomotsuke6496]

Thank you so much. It really helped!

[@miquevandijk7463]

Wow, I never understood contour lines, after this video I know ! and it was fun

[@heathercrellin9200]

I get it!! The soup helped. If you take the label off it has ribbing.

[@BaRRe0n]

legendary video :)

[@mrchristian8782]

thank you for this!

[@sandraredding4399]

Thankyou,inspired me.sandyr

[@delaylaylay]

thank you:)

[@JoJoboiWav]

thank you

[@sulynncho9299]

5:21

[@katrinajadev.agustin9473]

This helps me in a way to have more fun while still learning!! (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠❤

[@rongdhonu-6539]

New idea

[@pearl3761]

[@Muzzlepaint]

I'm going outside.... life got better

[@confusedmari555]

When you say ovals do you mean ellipses? Or actual ovals.

[@tomliii8619]

A Jew's bagel---don't like gentile doughnuts? LOL.

[@nabilxgmail]

wonderful thank you for that video

[@Dendenden123]

thank you

[@sulynncho9299]

7:29