Exploring lines

7 March 2011 Ashleigh Benn

Use of line..

Exploration of Line* principles of line

* types of line * line in nature * line in design


Principles of lineQualities of line• Depth, Tone (thickness)• Gradient• Direction (movement)• Organic• Geometric• Curvilinear• Rectilinear


Types of line

http://cnx.org/content/m24870/latest/


Depth, Tone and Thickness

• As one can see in thepicture here, alternativepressures and thickness'used in line can createdepth and tone. Thecloser the line the deeperthe image.


Gradient

• The intense usage of linehere creates an intensityin the mark making, onecan almost feel the depththat has been created.


Direction, Movement

• In this image, fast pacedmovements are shown inthe lines that are veryclose together and darkin colour. The less‘angry’ lines depict the‘froth’ of the wave,which is lighter andmore gentle.

http://artandwater.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html


Continuous

• Continuity in line cangive a soft feminineemotion, and can alsogive depth withouthaving to place intensivetonal elements.

http://johngushue.typepad.com/blog/2008/01/continuity.html


Organic

• Organic lines are foundin nature and formirregular shapes. In thisimage the loosely drawnlines give a smoothtexture to the drawing aswell as a relaxedemotional quality. http://perfect-imperfection.com/2009/06/organic/


Geometric

• This picture showsthought andmeasurements. Thereare calculations in theline and this depicts analmost clinical approachin the mark making.

http://www.abcteach.com/directory/clip_art/art_and_artists/


Curvilinear

• This image ischaracterized by curvedlines. Here the piecetakes on a feminine,mystical feeling becauseof the ‘fairytale’ qualityof the line.


Rectilinear

• A masculine form of linethat is characterized bystraight lines. Here thestraight lines are used togive an accurateperspective.


Drawn line

• Hand drawn lines addan emotional emphasisto an image that is rarelyseen in any other form ofmark making, thecreator of the imagesshows part of their ownemotional path on thepaper.


Horizontal• This is one of artist Dana

McClure’s line series, Ithought this piece wasbreathtaking and loved theway she enforced texture byusing changes in tone andcolour in her line work.Horizontal lines evoke arestful feeling, the line alsohas a masculine quality.

http://www.lostateminor.com/2010/12/18/dana-mcclures-line-series/


Vertical• I thought this was an

interesting example ofvertical line usage. If youlook closely at the eye,one can see all the actualmarks that have beenmade are vertical. Thisgives the piece a ‘somber’emotion and a slightlymore masculine quality.

http://feathertickler.deviantart.com/art/Vertical-Line-Drawing-140491768


Contour

• Contour lines give shapeand movement with littletonal value. There issomething ratherbeautiful in theimperfections found inthe contours.

http://www.quia.com/jg/426706list.html


Varying Pressure

• As we can see here,varying pressure in linegives ones eye subtlenotification where depthin the image should be.Lighter areas feel thinand more airy.

http://drawsketch.about.com/od/flowerdrawing/ss/flower_drawing_2.htm


Form

• I really love drawingsthat depict ‘form’ in afree handed approach.Sketches depicting formcan create movement.Here, our eyes almostsee the figure moving.

http://blogs.hebali.com/itp/?p=92


Diagrammatic

• These lines are used toshow structure and howsomething could be fittedtogether or made towork.

http://www.bogdanskikonstruktion.de/en/front_content.php?idcat=96


Cross hatching

• Thought this example ofcross-hatching was aptbecause of the ‘literal’representation of thethumb ‘coming out’ ofthe cross- hatch. Crosshatching creates a tonalvalue that makes animage very realistic.

http://paulrodecker.blogspot.com/2009/01/drawing-of-day-cross-hatch.html


Invisible line

• Notice the line drawndown the centre of thesefigures. To have thiskind of invisible line, itmakes it easier to createproportions.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574793


Line in Nature

• This image I think is agreat depiction of howwe find lines in theworld around us.

http://www.woodka.com/2005/10/15/horizon/


Line in design

• Here a continuous line isshown in a piece ofjewellery. This braceletis given an organic feelbecause of the lack ofdetail.

http://www.ldnfashion.net/2011/02/new-h-stern-collection-launches-at-harrods/


Thank you

Exploring lines

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