Crosscontour

Crosscontour refers to lines drawn on the surface of a form that run across it rather than along its edge. These lines typically follow the direction of the surface’s curvature and are often perpendicular to the main contour, helping to describe volume, orientation, and depth. Crosscontours are used in drawing, sculpture, and other visual arts as a way to convey three-dimensional form on a two-dimensional surface.

In practice, crosscontour drawing involves layering lines that wrap around the form to reveal its structure. After establishing a basic outline, an artist adds lines that curve with the surface, spacing them more tightly where the form changes rapidly and more loosely where it remains relatively flat. When combined with shading, crosscontours enhance the sense of volume and light interaction by suggesting how the surface turns in space.

Common examples include the way crosscontour lines wrap around a sphere, producing ellipses that describe curvature; around a cylinder, they bend along the surface to indicate the circle of the end and the side surface; and on a cube, they bend to reflect the planes and edges as the form turns.

Crosscontours are distinct from edge contour lines, which mark the boundary of a shape. They are often used alongside traditional contour drawing, gesture work, and value modeling to improve accuracy in representing form, volume, and spatial orientation.