Outlining in drawing can sometimes make your artwork look flat and lifeless, especially if you rely on it too much. When artists overuse outlines, it often creates a stark contrast that takes away from the depth and natural feel of a drawing. If you want your work to look more dimensional and alive, understanding when and how to use outlining in drawing is key.
Below, I share seven actionable techniques to stop over-outlining in drawing and create more dynamic sketches that feel rich and lively.
Also, be sure to check out my guide on how to draw quickly with these 10 drawing strategies for more practical techniques to improve your sketches.
Outlining in Drawing: How to Avoid Over-Using It
Outlining in drawing can serve an important role, like defining boundaries or adding contrast, but when used excessively, it can make your drawing feel rigid and two-dimensional. The following strategies are designed to help you minimize outlining in drawing and, instead, create artwork that feels more fluid, natural, and expressive.
1. Create Edges with Tone and Shading
Instead of using lines to define every edge, use tone and shading to create a sense of form and depth. This is a much more subtle and natural way to define the boundaries of objects and can add more realism to your work.
To do this, lightly shade the area around the edge of an object, gradually darkening the shade as you get closer to the edge. The gradual transition from light to dark creates the illusion of an edge without the need for a bold outline.
This method works wonders in making your drawings look dimensional. If you’re interested in learning how to use different drawing tools effectively, check out my post on drawing with ballpoint pen techniques.
2. Draw from Life
Drawing from life helps you avoid relying on outlining in drawing because it forces you to capture what you see more spontaneously. When drawing from a live scene or subject, there isn't always time to meticulously outline everything, which is good for loosening up and moving away from outlines.
Drawing from life also means observing how light, shadows, and textures interact, which naturally leads to a more nuanced drawing style without heavy outlines. If you're looking for more inspiration on observational drawing techniques, I have a guide on analytical drawing that could be really helpful.
3. Draw the Biggest Shapes First
One of the best ways to stop yourself from outlining too much is to start with the biggest shapes first. By focusing on major forms and ignoring the outlines, you can build your drawing through mass and volume rather than lines. This approach helps you think of your subject in terms of its structure rather than just its edges.
For instance, if you're drawing a tree, begin with the trunk and large branches before moving on to the smaller details. This helps keep you focused on the big picture and prevents you from getting caught up in outlining every small leaf or twig.
4. Draw Quickly and Loosely
When you draw quickly and loosely, you're less likely to fall into the trap of over-outlining. Quick sketches help capture the essence of a subject without all the detail, which means you're relying more on movement and form rather than drawing each outline perfectly.
Quick gesture drawing is a great exercise for this. It emphasizes energy and flow over precision, which is key in avoiding rigid outlines. If you want to learn more about gesture drawing and adding fluidity to your sketches, you may enjoy my thoughts on drawing with expression.
5. Embrace Mistakes and Stay Loose
Perfectionism is a common reason artists end up over-outlining. When we focus too much on making our drawings look perfect, we often use outlines as a way to “clean up” our work, but this can make drawings look stiff.
Instead, try embracing mistakes—let them be a part of your drawing process. This will help you create more dynamic sketches. Sometimes letting go of that need for perfection will naturally make you draw in a looser and more expressive way, reducing the urge to outline everything.
6. Start with the Details Instead of the Outline
Another effective strategy for avoiding outlining in drawing is to start with the small details instead of focusing on the overall outline of your subject. By diving into the texture, light, and other tiny features, you’ll automatically shift your focus away from drawing that rigid outline.
For instance, if you’re drawing a flower, start with the petal veins or subtle color gradients rather than drawing an outline of the whole flower. This shift in focus will make your drawings feel more detailed and dimensional.
7. Vary Your Line Weights
Using a variety of line weights is another excellent way to move away from heavy outlines. When all the lines in a drawing are of equal width, it flattens the image, making it appear less dynamic. By varying line weights—using thicker lines for areas in shadow or lighter lines for subtle details—you can add a sense of depth to your work.
Experimenting with different tools and pressure levels is a great way to practice this. For example, try starting your sketch with very light, thin lines, and then darken up some areas as you refine your drawing. Using this approach, you'll add more depth to your drawing and reduce the reliance on outlines. If you're curious about more techniques like this, you might enjoy my post on how to find your style of drawing, which touches on various ways to add personality and depth to your work.
Final Thoughts on Outlining in Drawing
Outlining in drawing can be a useful tool, but it's important not to overuse it. By incorporating shading, drawing from life, working with different line weights, and focusing on shapes over outlines, you can create sketches that feel more alive and three-dimensional. Remember, less is often more—keep your lines varied and purposeful.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, these techniques will help you create more dynamic and engaging artwork without relying too heavily on outlines. Keep practicing, stay loose, and don’t be afraid to experiment!