LINE: Characteristics and Dynamics

Yesterday class began with a discussion on the characteristics and qualities of different kinds of Line. The first drawing was an inventory of four different kinds of line. Hayley's drawing below illustrates straight lines and curved lines with varying degrees of velocity. The dynamics increase in power and intensity towards the bottom of the paper. Notice how the changes in format influence the stretching, pulling and compacting of the lines within.

Hayley Irvin

The second drawing focused on straight lines, curved lines, angular lines and the combination of all. Sarah's drawing clearly illustrates how thicker lines advance in space while thinner lines recede. The spaces with one type of line are very unified whereas the combination of different lines adds variety and dynamics increasing the visual interest of the images.

Sarah Greathouse

We finished the day with a series of line drawings addressing shape, texture and depth within a composition. Tayler's drawing is an example of a symmetrically balanced composition with accented lines around the circles reinforcing their position in space. In addition, the rows of circles implies a linear path. The horizontal lines add texture as well as value increasing the sense of depth. Note how the lines get closer together as they recede.

Tayler Marsh

Heather's drawing is asymmetrically balanced. Depth is created primarily by overlapping forms and changing the size from large to small. The parallel lines on the frame shapes add texture and value providing a surface that stands apart from the background.

Heather Monnot-Griffith

CHARACTERISTICS OF LINE

Sasha Mattos

Today we began our investigation of the art element Line. Sasha's drawing above is a Line Inventory illustrating various line types. The objective was to explore different types of lines and what happens to them when 1. the format changes, 2. lines are repeated, 3. lines intersect, 4 lines move outside of the format (cropping)., etc. Format in particular may stretch the line, or in the case of a "tondo" or circular format, the negative areas are drastically altered.

Kacie Brunk

From there students made drawings exploring straight, curved and angular lines individually as well as combined. Notice in Kacie's drawing how the dynamics become more powerful with the changes to line and weight. In addition, when a line expands at an end or in the middle it may look more like a shape. Observe the left tondo composition how the line becomes "almond" shaped.

Ma Samson

Lastly, students chose one of the thumbnails from the previous drawing to enlarge. Ma's drawing has maintained much of the integrity and interest witnessed in the original. Notice how the bold lines advance and the thin lines recede and the broken or dashed and dotted lines bring a different rhythmical quality to the image than that of the continuous lines. Furthermore, there is an "implied" line within the spaces between the "actual" lines. All of these lines create a sense of unity in there likeness (similarity)  but are visual interesting for their variations (variety).