Line Dynamics

Mike Koonce

Class began with a brief discussion on how to create the illusion of depth. Here is a list, albeit limited,  of some possibilities:
1. line weight; dark lines advance while lighter lines recede
2. overlapping lines and shapes; establishes foreground and background
3. location; elements lower on picture plane = closer, higher up = further away
4. diagonals; may suggest one end is closer
5. gradations; dark values recede while light values advance
6. size/ scale change; larger objects appear closer, smaller further away

Keep in mind the most dynamic compositions with the greatest sense of depth have all these strategies working together. It usually takes the pairing of two or three of these to be successful.

Mike has created a very dynamic and varied composition above by employing zig-zagging lines in the foreground complemented by arcing bands in the background. Notice how he has used bold, heavy lines in the foreground gradually thinning as they recede along the edge of the ribbon.

Susan Potter

Susan has also used line weight variations in her drawing. The image is basically a grid which generally speaking adds organization and stability to an image but the bending and curving lines animate the surface, causing it to rise and fall like waves or a hilly terrain.