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Somewhere on this site is a drawing of a spaniel pup I drew in about five minutes. It was drawn one stroke style, or line first. I made each line only once, but carefully. It is just a mind set. It is placing greater importance on each line and its style, strength, direction and flare. If every line is correct, the drawing will be correct. Right? Well, hopefully. That is the idea, anyway. It works well for me, in the short sketch venu. I think some people have a different mind set when they start a subject. They go for the form with little regard to the style of lines that they make. Not that that is wrong. It is just a different approach. Some call it gesture drawing. You scribble out the form, then define it more and more as you go with the overall form in mind rather than the lines. This method, gesture, works well if you are drawing out of your imagination without any reference to look at. Your very gestured lines become the reference. Line first is just a term which I use to describe the opposite of gesture drawing, which is, you might say, form first.
I consider line first a primary discipline worthy of any beginner's training, as well as gesture. Too often, line is sadly neglected. I was taught it at a very early age, but it was not coined in that phrase.
I am really not much of a painter, but I am working on it. I draw, and will paint if asked to. My painting has taken a turn for the better since I have been a part of this Forum. Thank you, Cynthia.
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