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Learn to draw contour lines from a dollar bill, focusing on engraved line patterns and the portrait outline using a clear convention and checkable steps.
This lesson teaches contour-line study of a dollar bill as a drawing exercise, not currency design or financial content. You will observe engraved line patterns and the portrait outline, then draw contour lines that describe edges and surface changes. A contour line is a single continuous line that follows a visible boundary or a change in direction on a form. For this study, use a simple convention: draw each contour as one unbroken line where possible, keep line weight even, and let lines touch or cross only where the reference shows an actual overlap. Because letter styles and engraving vary, valid alternatives exist; the rubric rewards accurate observation and consistent line behavior rather than one universal answer. Work from a real bill or a clear reference image, and measure your actual tools if you set numerical values. All numerical examples here are hypothetical and labeled as such.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
Use the stated measurements and conventions for each exercise.
Engraved patterns on a dollar bill are dense families of fine lines that change direction to describe form. Treat each family as a set of contour lines: follow the direction of the lines, note where they curve, and mark where one family meets another. Do not shade; use line direction and spacing to show the form.
Before drawing, scan the bill in bands. In each band, identify the dominant line direction and the points where that direction changes. These change points become your contour anchors.
The portrait outline is a closed contour that separates the face from the background. Begin with the outer boundary, then add interior contours for major planes such as the hairline, jaw, and collar. Keep the outer contour continuous and let interior contours stop where they meet it.
Use the x-height convention for any lettering you include: x-height is measured from baseline to midline. Letter styles vary, so record your own midline rather than assuming a fixed height.
Combine the engraved-pattern contours and the portrait outline into one drawing. Keep a single line convention: one line per contour, even weight, and no shading. Where two contour families meet, let the lines meet at a clear point rather than blending.
Use simple arithmetic to check consistency. For example, if you draw five contour lines across a 20 mm band with equal spacing, the hypothetical spacing is 4 mm. Measure your actual band and label any chosen values as hypothetical examples.
A student draws the portrait outer contour and three interior contours. The outer contour is closed. Two interior contours stop at the outer line, but one crosses it. The student also shades the jaw. Identify two fixes and one check.
Fix one: stop the crossing interior contour at the outer line. Fix two: remove the shading and redraw the jaw as a contour line. Check: confirm every interior contour endpoint touches the outer contour and no line crosses it.
In a 30 mm wide band, draw four equal spaces between five contour lines. State the hypothetical spacing and describe how you would check it.
Hypothetical spacing is 30 divided by 4, which equals 7.5 mm.
Why: Four spaces require five lines. Equal spacing means the band width is divided by the number of spaces.
Check: Measure the band with a ruler, divide by four, and compare each gap to the result.
A portrait outline has one closed outer contour and two interior contours. One interior contour starts inside and ends inside without touching the outer line. Describe the correction using the convention.
Extend the interior contour so one endpoint meets the outer contour, or redraw it to stop at the outer line.
Why: Interior contours should connect to the outer contour at their endpoints to describe planes clearly.
Check: Trace each interior contour and confirm at least one endpoint touches the outer line.
You draw six engraved lines across a 24 mm band with equal spacing. Give the hypothetical spacing and one reason to label it hypothetical.
Hypothetical spacing is 24 divided by 5, which equals 4.8 mm. Label it hypothetical because the band width and line count are chosen examples, not measured standards.
Why: Six lines create five spaces. The value depends on the chosen numbers.
Check: Count spaces, divide the measured width by the space count, and compare gaps.
A student includes lettering and measures x-height as 3 mm from baseline to midline. They then assume all letters must be 3 mm tall. State the correction and a check.
Correction: x-height is baseline to midline, not total letter height; letter styles vary. Check: measure baseline to midline on the reference and record it separately from total height.
Why: The convention defines x-height specifically, and valid alternatives in letter style exist.
Check: Measure baseline to midline and total height separately, then confirm the recorded x-height matches the midline measurement.
A clear reference image works. If you use a real bill, keep the study focused on line patterns and outline only.
A single continuous line following a visible boundary or a change in direction on the form.
Keep weight even for this convention. Valid alternatives exist in style, but consistency is required.
Measure one band and divide its width by the number of equal spaces. Label any numerical value as a hypothetical example.