ON CURVED LINES.
The right position of the hand for drawing any curved line is that required for a straight line which would touch the extremities of the curve. The straight lines given in the exercises are valuable, not only as a guide to the position of the hand, but as an assistance to the eye when forming the curves or examining them after they are produced.
The direction given for drawing a straight line was to form it by one steady movement from point to point, without any jerk or stop by the way. This instruction requires to be changed for the curve, which is better produced by several short strokes, thus:
or by overlapping lines, any outside bits being cleared away with India rubber.
These exercises will test the drawing power and try the patience of the pupil, but they are worthy of all the care which can be bestowed, which in future efforts will meet with its full reward.
[Fig. 76]: Draw first the square as directed in the previous lesson, join the points A, B, C and add the short lines at E and F, proceed with the curve A B, drawing it with faint lines at first, and adding stroke upon stroke until the required depth is obtained; the curve A C is more difficult to produce, in consequence of the formation of the hand; it should, therefore, be drawn in shorter pieces, joining them together afterwards by over strokes.
Fig. 76.
Fig. 77.
[Fig. 77]: Draw the square and straight lines first, then add the curves, taking care to give the greatest fullness at the right place.
[Fig. 78]: Draw the square and straight lines, proceed with the curves, taking care to make each of the same proportion.
[Figs. 79] and [80]: The ovals contained in these figures are simply foreshortened circles, and as such forms are of frequent occurrence in sketching from objects, in bridges, wheels, ends of timber, etc., they should be carefully studied; the greatest difficulty is to turn the narrow ends, and prevent their looking like corners. For this purpose it is better to draw the short curves first, thus:
and then join the longer sides to them.
[Fig. 81]: If this figure can be drawn correctly, a great success has been achieved; the circle is a most difficult form to delineate, and without system could not be accomplished. Draw the square and straight lines within it with great care, examine each point of the octagon to see that it is at the same distance from the centre, and then draw the circle.