The skill that I'm trying to master at the moment is being able to view objects as they really are and to observe where there are "edges" which can be captured in a contour picture. While these drawings look simplistic it's surprising how much character it's possible to imbue them with. So today I pulled a couple of interesting but not too complex items (few overlapping parts) from the kitchen drawer:
Then, unlike with previous attempts, I reached for a fine-nib pen and started looking for dominant lines. The curious thing about using a pen is that it makes you more bold and flowing with your lines as there's no easy way to rub out mistakes - so for better or worse you really have to commit to the line you've chosen:
I happen to think that this drawing has come out pretty well and I've really managed to follow the instructions in my guide book; the contours are clear and the proportions are accurate. Compared to a desaturated version of my initial photo, with an "ink sketch" filter applied, I reckon that they're clearly in the same ballpark. Now I just need to be able to draw smoother curves freehand and I'll be happy (for now).