Contour line

A contour line is a line that defines the outer edge or boundary of a form. In drawing, it separates the depicted form from the surrounding space.

Contour drawing: A drawing practice that builds forms primarily from lines tracing their visible edges. It uses boundary-tracing lines as the main means of describing a subject.
Silhouette: The dark shape of an object seen against a lighter background, often showing only its outer profile. A contour line can trace the same outer profile that a silhouette presents as a filled shape.
Gesture drawing: A rapid drawing practice that captures a subject’s movement, pose, and overall action. It prioritizes movement and energy rather than carefully tracing the form’s boundary.
Form (visual art): The three-dimensional quality of an object, or its depiction, in visual art. A contour gives the depicted form a visible boundary against its surroundings.
Blind contour drawing: A drawing exercise made while looking at the subject rather than the page. It trains sustained observation of edges without correcting the drawn line by sight.
Negative space: The unoccupied area around and between the forms in an image or design. The contour separates a depicted form from the surrounding negative space.
Hatching: A shading technique that uses repeated parallel lines to suggest tone and volume. Hatching models light and dark with marks rather than defining the outer edge.
Shape (visual art): A two-dimensional enclosed area defined by its boundary or by changes in color or tone. A closed contour can establish the shape of a depicted object.
Topographic map: A map that represents terrain, commonly using lines to show equal elevations. Its contour lines trace elevation rather than the visible edge of an object.
Line weight: The perceived thickness or visual strength of a line. Changing line weight can distinguish a contour from interior marks or emphasize selected edges.

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