LINE

"A Line is a Dot that went for a walk" Paul Klee

         

     Line is one of the most important Elements of Art. Imagine creating a painting, 
sculpture or design without drawing lines to divide the paper or canvas into shapes and forms!. Think about how important a role Line plays in 
the creation process. Lines can communicate an idea or express a feeling. They 
can appear static or active. Lines define objects. We will take a look at how artists 
use line expressively.
 
Line

•  is the path of a moving point: horizontal, vertical, diagonal.
•  is the mark left by a tool: brush, pencil, pen, etc.
•  defines the position and direction of a design, image or form.
•  Types of line include vertical, horizontal, diagonal, contour or a combination of these.
•  They may be curved, straight, thick, thin, smooth, long, short and so forth.
•  Lines are used to create shape, pattern, texture, space, movement and optical illusion in design.
•  The use of lines allows artist to demonstrate delicacy or force.
•  Curves may take us slowly uphill, or turn sharply twisting our mind as they turn.
•   a line can express various moods and feelings.

Look around your class. Look at the edge of objects ... you are looking at lines!.

Learn more about lines  and practice drawing with them.

Engraving. Germany, 1568.

Pablo Picasso

Still life, 1984. Miquel Barceló.

 

"Stripe Song" by J. Seeley. 1981.

Outline. Outlines show the edges of the shapes and forms being drawn.
Countour Line. Countour lines not onlyshow the edges of the shapes being drawn, but 
they also go onto the surface of the object to help describe the 3-dimensional qualities of 
the form.

Gesture Lines. They indicate action and physical movement. They are done quickly in  
the form of a rough sketch as the model moves. Therefore they lack detail.

More information about line with the Virtual Instructor. Check the Artist's Toolkit for interesting resources. To create a composition click here.

Exercises:________________________________________________
   1. See how many types of lines the children can come up with. Have the students draw each type of line with you.
       Dotted, wavy, curly, straight, zigzag, spiral, vertical, horizontal, perpendicular, parallel,  diagonal, angles, fat/thin, …

   2. Now, make your students draw 4 different compositions with lines on the same paper.

Line composition done by a student.

Line composition done by a student.

   3. A 3D hand made by lines.
   4. Working with... lines. Examples of exercices made by the students.
   5. Line search in art works. Have the students look for types of line. This can be done as a group in front of a single painting, or children can be given a card with a type of line and search the room for the best example of that type of line. Posters or art postcards can be used in the classroom.

       Ask students to point out designs which show:
           •  unity between all parts of the design.
           •  formal (symmetrical), informal (asymmetrical) and radial balance.
           •  areas of movement and rhythm.
           •  several different kinds of contrast.
           •  any obvious patterns.
           •  a focal point or center of interest.

  6. Make the students draw a picture with scribble and send it to you. Have fun!!!
  7. Extra credit. Try to do a Funky frame following the steps shown in Art Attack program.