Contour Line Drawing of a Football: Form and Practice

Object Drawing Lessons

Contour line drawing captures the shape and volume of an object using lines that follow its visible edges and surface changes. For a football, the challenge is to show the spherical form and the slight flattening where it rests, without shading or panel seams. This lesson teaches a repeatable method: establish the outer contour, add internal contour lines that describe curvature, and refine line weight to suggest depth. Use a consistent line-weight convention: slightly darker lines for nearer surfaces and lighter lines for receding surfaces. Line placement is judged by consistency and clarity rather than a single correct answer. All resources are planned and free; they are not yet built. The instructional text below is self-contained.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Understanding Contour Lines for a Football

A contour line is a continuous line that defines an edge or a change in surface direction. For a football, the outer contour is the silhouette. Internal contour lines describe how the surface curves away from the viewer, such as the gentle bulge near the top and the slight flattening at the bottom where the ball meets the ground.

Avoid drawing panel seams or shading. Focus on lines that follow the form. Use a light pencil for construction and a darker line for the final contour. Keep lines smooth and vary weight slightly: heavier where the form is closest, lighter where it recedes.

1. Draw a light circle or oval as the basic outer contour, slightly flattened at the bottom.
2. Add a horizontal midline and a vertical midline to check symmetry.
3. Draw internal contour lines that curve with the surface, such as a gentle arc near the top and a short arc near the bottom.
4. Refine the outer contour with a darker, continuous line, adjusting weight for depth.
5. Erase construction lines and check that all contour lines describe form without shading.

Establishing Proportion and Placement

Proportion is the relationship between width and height. A football viewed from the side is roughly circular but slightly wider than tall when resting. Measure the actual object if possible; for practice, use a hypothetical example: width 10 units, height 9 units. Mark the widest and tallest points lightly.

Place the ball on a baseline. The bottom contour should touch the baseline at one point, showing the flattening. The top contour should be a smooth curve. Use the midline to check that left and right halves are similar but not identical, since perspective may shift the center.

1. Mark the baseline and a vertical centerline.
2. Measure width and height with a ruler or by eye; label hypothetical values if used.
3. Draw the outer contour as a smooth closed curve, flattened at the bottom.
4. Check symmetry by comparing distances from the centerline at several heights.
5. Adjust the contour until the form reads as a ball resting on a surface.

Adding Internal Contour Lines

Internal contour lines show curvature. For a football, a few well-placed arcs are enough. Draw one arc near the top that follows the sphere's curve, and one short arc near the bottom where the surface flattens. These lines should not cross and should taper at the ends.

Use a consistent convention: lines that describe the nearest surface are slightly darker; lines that describe receding areas are lighter. This is a drawing convention, not a universal rule. Valid alternatives include using uniform line weight if clarity is maintained.

1. Draw a gentle arc from left to right near the top, following the outer contour's curvature.
2. Draw a shorter arc near the bottom, showing the flattening.
3. Add one or two subtle arcs on the sides to suggest volume, keeping them parallel to the outer contour.
4. Check that internal lines do not imply panel seams or shading.
5. Refine line weight: darker for near edges, lighter for far edges.

Refining and Checking the Drawing

Refinement is about clarity. Erase construction lines and smooth any jagged strokes. The final drawing should have a clean outer contour and a few internal lines that make the form readable. Avoid overworking; too many lines can confuse the contour.

Check the drawing by viewing it from a distance. Does it read as a football? Are the internal lines consistent with the outer form? Use the rubric to self-assess. Labels are optional; if added, keep them clear and consistent.

1. Erase construction lines carefully.
2. Smooth the outer contour with a single continuous stroke if possible.
3. Adjust internal lines so they taper and follow the form.
4. View from a distance and check readability.
5. Self-assess using the rubric and note any needed changes.

Worked example

Draw a football resting on a baseline using contour lines only. Use a hypothetical width of 10 units and height of 9 units. Show the outer contour, a flattened bottom, and two internal contour arcs.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Drawing internal lines as panel seams or stitching. Keep internal lines as gentle arcs that follow curvature; do not add seams or patterns.
• Making the outer contour a perfect circle without flattening at the bottom. Flatten the bottom slightly where the ball meets the ground, using the baseline as a guide.
• Using heavy, uniform line weight everywhere. Vary line weight slightly: darker for near edges, lighter for receding areas, or use uniform weight if clarity is maintained.
• Adding shading or hatching. Use only contour lines; no shading, hatching, or tonal fills.

Self-check rubric

• Outer contour is a smooth, closed curve that reads as a football.
• Bottom of the contour is slightly flattened where it meets the baseline.
• Internal contour lines follow the form and do not suggest panel seams.
• Line weight is consistent or intentionally varied for depth.
• No shading, hatching, or tonal fills are used.
• Drawing is clean, with construction lines erased.
• Proportions are plausible; hypothetical measurements are labeled if used.

Questions and answers