Cross the Dot

Exercise Three

We are now moving onto a third technique - this time focused on improving your precision in hitting and passing through a point. Instead of ending your line at the target, you are going to draw through it and continue beyond it.

Starting with a fresh sheet of paper - or a clean backside - place a handful of dots scattered across the page. These dots are going to act as your guide. You can start your lines anywhere - as long as you are finding your dot and drawing through it. Avoid drawing with your fingers or wrist. Instead gently lock these joints, using your whole arm to guide the motion. This will produce smoother, straighter lines more consistently.

The goal is to draw multiple lines that intersect through the same point. This is a foundational skill in perspective drawing, where many lines must converge at a single point; be it lines aimed towards a vanishing point, or lines converging at one corner of a box.

These tend to be most accurate because they build momentum. By focusing on a point beyond the dot, rather than stopping on it, your lines gain a natural fluidity. Aim beyond the mark, rather than hesitating and stopping on it. 

A secondary goal for this exercise is Ghosting, a technique where you practice drawing the line by hovering your pencil over the path before making contact with the page. This allows your muscles to practice the motion and build confidence before committing to the stroke. So, ghost your lines a few time before putting them down to improve your accuracy.