Art fundamentals ch03 line 11 11 2017

The Vocabulary of Line Line: The Elementary Means of Communication The Physical Characteristics of Line Measure Type

Art Fundamentals

Direction Location Character The Expressive Properties of Line Line and the Other Art Elements Line and Shape Line and Value

Line and Texture Line and Color The Spatial Characteristics of Line Line and Representation

Chapter 3 Line

THE VOCABULARY OF INTRODUCTORY TERMS  

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Line The path of a moving point that is made by a tool, instrument, or medium as it moves across an area.

A line usually made visible because it contrasts in value with its surroundings.

THE VOCABULARY OF INTRODUCTORY TERMS  

calligraphy Elegant, decorative writing.

Lines used in artworks that possess the qualities found in this kind of writing may be called "calligraphic" and are generally flowing and rhythmical.

THE VOCABULARY OF INTRODUCTORY TERMS ď Ž

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contour In art, the line that defines the outermost limits of an object or a drawn or painted shape. It is sometimes considered to be synonymous with "outline"; as such, it indicates an edge that also may be defined by the extremities of darks, lights, textures, or colors.

THE VOCABULARY OF INTRODUCTORY TERMS  

cross-contour A line that crosses and defines the surface undulations between, or up to, the outermost edges of shapes or objects.

THE VOCABULARY OF INTRODUCTORY TERMS 

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expression I. The manifestation through artistic form of a thought, emotion, or quality of meaning.

2. In art, expression is synonymous with the term content.

THE VOCABULARY OF INTRODUCTORY TERMS 

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hatching Repeated strokes of an art tool producing clustered lines (usually parallel) that create values.

In "cross-hatching," similar lines pass over the hatched lines in a different direction, usually resulting in darker values.

THE VOCABULARY OF INTRODUCTORY TERMS ď Ž

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implied line Implied lines (subjective lines) are those that dim, fade, stop, and/or disappear. Missing portion of the line is implied to continue and is visually completed by the observer as the line reappears.

THE VOCABULARY OF INTRODUCTORY TERMS  

Representation (al) art A type of art in which the subject is presented through the visual art elements so that the observer is reminded of actual objects. (See naturalism and realism)

Art Fundamentals Chapter 3 Line Part 1

Line: The elementary means of communication   

Handwriting Sketching Drawing

Line: The elementary means of communication ď Ž

Theoretically: a line is an extended dot.

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The physical characteristics are used by the artist to create meanings.

Line: The elementary means of communication ď Ž

Line in Nature

Line: The elementary means of communication 

Line  

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A graphic device of visual instruction Symbol of something observed

Line: The elementary means of communication 

Line  

Communicative manners: Defining limits of shape  Meeting of areas  A contour 

Line 

Implied line 

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Suggest spatial change, movement, or animation.

Fade, stop, and/or disappear and then reappear as a continuation or an extension of an edge or a direction.

Line ď Ž

Actual lines

Line 

Calligraphic line    

Personal Flowing Rhythmical Intriguing

Line 

Calligraphy  

Grace Elegancy

Line 

Functions  

Creation of Value and Texture.

Reproduce the appearance of subjects.

The Physical Characteristics of Line

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Strait or curved Direct or meandering Short or long Thin or thick Zigzag or serpentine

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Built-in Associations

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The Physical Characteristics of Line 1- MEASURE 

Length or width  

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Long and short Thick and thin

Divide Balance Unbalance

The Physical Characteristics of Line 2- TYPE 

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Straight Curved Angular

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Long or Short Thick or Thin

The Physical Characteristics of Line 2- TYPE 

Continues in only one direction  STRAIGHHT

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Changes direction gradually occur  CURVED

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Changes sudden and abrupt  ANGULAR

The Physical Characteristics of Line 2- TYPE 

Alterations of movement become visually entertaining and physically stimulating if they are rhythmical.  

Graceful Unstable

The Physical Characteristics of Line 2- TYPE 

Our eyes frequently have difficulty adapting to an angular line’s unexpected deviations of direction.   

Excitement Confusion Challenge

The Physical Characteristics of Line 3- DIRECTION 

Basic direction - Basic movement.

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Horizontal direction could indicate serenity and perfect stability.

Diagonal direction would probably imply agitation and motion.

Vertical suggests poise and aspiration.

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The Physical Characteristics of Line 3- DIRECTION 

Basic direction  Basic movement.

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Horizontal  serenity and perfect stability.

Diagonal  agitation and motion.

Vertical  poise and aspiration.

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The Physical Characteristics of Line 3- DIRECTION ď Ž

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The direction of line is very important because it controls the movements of our eyes while we view a picture.

Our eye movements can facilitate the continuity of relationships among the various properties of the elements.

The Physical Characteristics of Line 4- LOCATION 

According to placement, a line can serve to:   

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Unify Divide Balance Unbalance

Various attributes can act in concert toward one goal or can serve separate roles of expression.

The Physical Characteristics of Line 5- CHARACTER ď Ž

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The Medium with which the line is created.

Monotony could result from the consistent use of lines of the same character unless the unity so gained is balanced by the variation of other physical properties.

The Physical Characteristics of Line 5- CHARACTER ď Ž

The personality or emotional quality of the line is greatly dependent on the nature of the medium chosen.

The Expressive Properties of line 

Line Feelings:   

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Somber Tired Energetic Brittle Alive

The spectator must be receptive and perceptive and have a reservoir of experiences to draw upon.

The Expressive Properties of line

Lazy

Confusion

Tired

Euphoria

Angry

Frustrated

Excited

Content

The Expressive Properties of line 

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Through Composition and Expression lines come to life.

All Important.

Some lines are Dominant and some Subordinate but all Important.

Their real beauty lies in the relationship they establish in the form.

The Expressive Properties of line ď Ž

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Form: representational or nonrepresentational Recognition and enjoyment of the work is more likely when the work is understood on the abstract level.

The Expressive Properties of line 

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Organization brings the artist’s message to the forefront.

Planned composition.

Line and the other art elements ď Ž

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Line can possess color, value, and texture, and it can create shape.

Line can be admired for its own sake.

Line and the other art elements Line and Shape ď Ž

Contour Lines serves as a continuous edge of a figure, object, or mass. Describe the extremities of shapes or masses.

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Cross-contours provide information about the nature of the surfaces contained within those edges.

Line and the other art elements Line and Shape

Line and the other art elements Line and Shape 

Modulated lines: Describing the feature of that face by cross-contour.  Thick and Thin  Irregular and curved  Vary the Pressure  Vary the Spaces

Line and the other art elements Line and Shape ď Ž

Separate Shapes, values, textures, and colors.

Line and the other art elements Line and Value ď Ž ď Ž

Value: The contrast in lightness and darkness that a line exhibits against its background.

Light

Dark

Line and the other art elements Line and Value 

Value:

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Thick or Thin

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Heavy, wide lines appear dark wile narrow, thin lines appear light.

Thin

Light

Thick

Dark

Line and the other art elements Line and Value   

Value: Varying Spaces Widely spaced lines appear light, and closely spaced lines appear dark.

Less

More

Line and the other art elements Line and Value ď Ž ď Ž

Value: Mixture of media

Line and the other art elements Line and Value ď Ž

Hatching is used to produce value.

Line and the other art elements Line and Texture ď Ž

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Groups of lines can combine to produce textures that suggest a visual feeling for the character of the surface.

Media and tools.

Line and the other art elements Line and Color ď Ž

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Color adds an important expressive potential.

Accentuate other properties.

Line and the other art elements Line and Color ď Ž

Color and emotional states.

#1 Circle, outside - symbolizes the positive aspects. #2 Circle - the six emotions, three primary and three secondary, represented by their colors. #3 Circle - the negative aspects of each emotion. #4 Circle - Depression, the muddy mixture of all negative emotions.

The Spatial Characteristics of Line   

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Spatial properties.

Position  suggests space Value  advance and recede Warm colors generally advance Cool colors generally recede

The Spatial Characteristics of Line ď Ž

Line with varied values appear to writhe and twist in space.

The Spatial Characteristics of Line 

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Every factor that produces line has something to say about a line’s location in space.

The artist’s job is to use these factors to create spatial order.

The Spatial Characteristics of Line ď Ž

Spatial illusion

Line and Representation ď Ž

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Line creates representation on both abstract and realistic levels.

Objective and Subjective implications.

Line and Representation ď Ž

Line suggesting physical presence and psychological character.

Line and Representation 

Line becomes a means for transcribing the expressive language of ideas and emotions. 

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Edges or Contours of shapes Diagrams silhouette Encompasses spaces and area.

Line and Representation ď Ž

It depicts facts – an architects plan, an engineers drawing, maps, or words.

Line and Representation 

It expresses actions in a “gestural” sense – past, present and future.

Line and Representation

Art Fundamentals Chapter 3 Line End