LINE

is an element of art that is used to define shape, contours, and outlines, also to suggest mass and volume. It may be a continuous mark made on a surface with a pointed tool or implied by the edges of shapes and forms.

All lines have direction - Horizontal, Vertical or Oblique. Horizontal suggests calmness, stability and tranquility. Vertical gives a feeling of balance, formality and alertness. Oblique suggests movement and action.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LINE ARE:

Width - thick, thin, tapering and uneven

Length - long, short, continuous and broken

Direction - horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curving, perpendicular, oblique, parallel, radial and zigzag

Focus - sharp, blurry, fuzzy and choppy

Feeling - sharp, jagged, graceful and smooth

freeform lines creating movement

Horizontal

Vertical

TYPES OF LINE:

Outlines - Lines made by the edge of an object or its silhouette.

Contour Lines - Lines that describe the shape of an object and the interior detail.

Gesture Lines - Line that are energetic and catches the movement and gestures of an active figure.

Sketch Lines - Lines that captures the appearance of an object or impression of a place.

Implied Line - Lines that are not actually drawn but created by a group of objects seen from a distance. The direction an object is pointing to, or the direction a person is looking at.

Using stippling and crosshatching to create value

Stippling is the creation of a pattern simulating varying degrees of solidity or shading by using small dots. Such a pattern may occur in nature and artists frequently emulate these effects.

Crosshatching is the drawing of two layers of hatching at right angles to create a mesh-like pattern. Multiple layers in varying directions can be used to create textures. Crosshatching is often used to create tonal effects, by varying the spacing of lines or by adding additional layers of lines. Crosshatching is used in pencil drawing, but is particularly useful with pen and ink drawing, to create the impression of areas of value, since the pen can only create a solid black line.

crosshatching

stippling