Type of lines

Continuous Line Drawing

While observing an object, the drawing implement remains on the the page with uninterrupted contact creating enclosed shapes. Oftentimes, lines will have to cross over themselves repeatedly in order to finish drawing the subject being studied. Examples of this can be seen in drawings by Pablo Picasso and Egon Schiele. They were able to create beautiful line qualities by never lifting their drawing instrument off the page. Hands are particularly interesting when drawn in this style, as each knuckle and fingernail is detailed by lines that intersect and overlap moving on to the next detail.

Gesture Drawings

Gesture drawings are commonly used as warm-ups in figure drawing classes. They are spontaneous representations of an expressive stance of a subject. Gesture drawings are usually contained within the limits of 30 seconds to two minutes. This type of exercise helps to loosen up the wrist and align the hand with the eye. It is possible to capture movement and weight in gesture studies. Some artists prefer to use the tip of their drawing tool to show the quick outlines of a figure, while other artists use the wide edge of their instrument to shade in the weight of the subject being studied. It is common to see a series of 10 or 15 gesture drawings overlapping on one page.

Mass Gesture Lines

Mass gesture lines refer specifically to using a drawing instrument on its widest side. Charcoal is a great tool for accomplishing this line. By looking at the subject being studied, the drawing tool is used sideways to deliver a quick, wide mark. This type of mark specifically shows the density of the subject. In order to show weight, the tool can be used with more pressure for a darker mark. To show lighter mass, less pressure can be applied. Unlike gesture drawings, there are no outlines in mass gesture practices.

Reductive
Starting with a sheet of paper covered in charcoal or graphite, the object being studied is drawn into the covered ground using an eraser. A gum eraser is preferable as you can easily manipulate it to any width or point. The resulting drawing is one of negative line space.

Parallel or Cross Hatching Lines
Marks created with repeating lines are used to create texture, patterns or shading. This is often seen in renderings created by master artists and illustrators. By creating lines that are close together or intersecting them at diagonal angles, delicate or harsh shading can be achieved. Typically these lines are not blended. The more lines that are clustered next to one another or crossing over each other, the darker the shading becomes. The shading can also be altered by the pressure of the tool used to make the marks. However, if ink is being used, pressure will not alter the intensity of color. Instead, choosing to make less marks or make them further apart from one another will give the effect of lighter shadows.