Line Field / shape

See the Negative Shape of a Handle

The opening is often easier than the curve.

The small question

The opening is often easier than the curve. This exercise asks you to check a visible relation rather than judge whether the whole sketch is good.

Try it in front of the subject

Look at the hole between a cup and its handle. Sketch the hole as a small shape first, then draw the handle around it. Its angle and width will be tied to something visible. Keep the first marks light enough that you can revise them after another look.

What this exercise cannot prove

Do not make the opening a perfect oval unless it appears that way from your seat. A tilted cup can produce an irregular shape. An example can suggest where to look, but the scene in front of you is the evidence for your drawing.

A second pass

Draw the same cup from a new angle and compare how the handle opening narrows. Keep the first attempt beside the revision so you can see which choice changed.

A field-note challenge

Compare the handle opening with a patch of background next to the cup. Both are empty on the page, but only one is enclosed by the object. Drawing those spaces side by side can reveal whether the handle is too thick or its attachment points are misplaced.