Artists use analytical drawing techniques to explore and record their subject matter. Designers also often use analytical drawing to investigate the visual qualities of their sources of inspiration.
contour drawing - shows outlines, shapes and edges but not fine detail, texture, tone or colour
cross contour drawing - uses lines drawn across surfaces to suggest their depth and form
tonal study - uses different techniques that show light and shade, for example by blending, hatching or cross-hatching
colour study - explores and shows different colours and tones, for example by blending colours together, using a range of different coloured pens, overlapping different colours of pencil
Try challenging yourself by setting limits on your drawing, for example:
Set a time limit on your drawing. Try drawing the same composition in 15 seconds, 30 seconds, one minute, two minutes. This helps you concentrate on key elements.
Try blind contour drawing. This involves drawing while you look at your subject not the drawing. This helps you concentrate on what you see rather than what you think it should look like.
Do a continuous line drawing in which you never take your pen or pencil off of the paper. This helps you work on varying line weight.