1.
Art Fundamentals
Chapter 3
Line
The Vocabulary of Line
Line: The Elementary Means of
Communication
The Physical Characteristics of Line
Measure
Type
Direction
Location
Character
The Expressive Properties of Line
Line and the Other Art Elements
Line and Shape
Line and Value
Line and Texture
Line and Color
The Spatial Characteristics of Line
Line and Representation

2.
THE VOCABULARY OF
INTRODUCTORY TERMS
 Line
 The path of a moving point that is made by
a tool, instrument, or medium as it moves
across an area.
 A line usually made visible because it
contrasts in value with its surroundings.

3.
THE VOCABULARY OF
INTRODUCTORY TERMS
 calligraphy
 Elegant, decorative writing.
Lines used in artworks that
possess the qualities found in
this kind of writing may be
called "calligraphic" and are
generally flowing and
rhythmical.

4.
THE VOCABULARY OF
INTRODUCTORY TERMS
 contour
 In art, the line that defines the
outermost limits of an object or
a drawn or painted shape. It is
sometimes considered to be
synonymous with "outline"; as
such, it indicates an edge that
also may be defined by the
extremities of darks, lights,
textures, or colors.

5.
THE VOCABULARY OF
INTRODUCTORY TERMS
 cross-contour
 A line that crosses and
defines the surface
undulations between,
or up to, the outermost
edges of shapes or
objects.

6.
THE VOCABULARY OF
INTRODUCTORY TERMS
 expression
 I. The manifestation through
artistic form of a thought,
emotion, or quality of
meaning.
 2. In art, expression is
synonymous with the term
content.

7.
THE VOCABULARY OF
INTRODUCTORY TERMS
 hatching
 Repeated strokes of an art
tool producing clustered lines
(usually parallel) that create
values.
 In "cross-hatching," similar
lines pass over the hatched
lines in a different direction,
usually resulting in darker
values.

8.
THE VOCABULARY OF
INTRODUCTORY TERMS
 implied line
 Implied lines (subjective
lines) are those that dim,
fade, stop, and/or
disappear. Missing portion
of the line is implied to
continue and is visually
completed by the observer
as the line reappears.

9.
THE VOCABULARY OF
INTRODUCTORY TERMS
 Representation (al) art
 A type of art in which the
subject is presented
through the visual art
elements so that the
observer is reminded of
actual objects. (See
naturalism and realism)

10.
Art Fundamentals
Chapter 3
Line
Part 1

11.
Line: The elementary means of communication
 Handwriting
 Sketching
 Drawing

12.
Line: The elementary means of communication
 Theoretically: a line is an extended dot.
 The physical characteristics are used by
the artist to create meanings.

13.
Line: The elementary means of communication
 Line in Nature

14.
Line: The elementary means of communication
 Line 
 A graphic device of
visual instruction
 Symbol of
something observed

15.
Line: The elementary means of communication
 Line 
 Communicative manners:
 Defining limits of shape
 Meeting of areas
 A contour

16.
Line
 Implied line
 Suggest spatial
change, movement,
or animation.
 Fade, stop, and/or
disappear and then
reappear as a
continuation or an
extension of an edge
or a direction.

17.
Line
 Actual lines

18.
Line
 Calligraphic line
 Personal
 Flowing
 Rhythmical
 Intriguing

19.
Line
 Calligraphy
 Grace
 Elegancy

20.
Line
 Functions
 Creation of Value and Texture.
 Reproduce the appearance of subjects.

21.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
 Strait or curved
 Direct or meandering
 Short or long
 Thin or thick
 Zigzag or serpentine
 Built-in Associations

22.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
1- MEASURE
 Length or width
 Long and short
 Thick and thin
 Divide
 Balance
 Unbalance

23.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
2- TYPE
 Straight
 Curved
 Angular
+
 Long or Short
 Thick or Thin

24.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
2- TYPE
 Continues in only one
direction  STRAIGHHT
 Changes direction gradually
occur  CURVED
 Changes sudden and abrupt
 ANGULAR

25.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
2- TYPE
 Alterations of
movement become
visually entertaining
and physically
stimulating if they are
rhythmical.
 Graceful
 Unstable

26.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
2- TYPE
 Our eyes frequently
have difficulty adapting
to an angular line’s
unexpected deviations
of direction.
 Excitement
 Confusion
 Challenge

27.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
3- DIRECTION
 Basic direction - Basic movement.
 Horizontal direction could indicate
serenity and perfect stability.
 Diagonal direction would probably
imply agitation and motion.
 Vertical suggests poise and
aspiration.

28.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
3- DIRECTION
 Basic direction 
Basic movement.
 Horizontal  serenity and
perfect stability.
 Diagonal  agitation and
motion.
 Vertical  poise and
aspiration.

29.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
3- DIRECTION
 The direction of line is very important
because it controls the movements of
our eyes while we view a picture.
 Our eye movements can facilitate the
continuity of relationships among the
various properties of the elements.

30.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
4- LOCATION
 According to placement, a line can serve to:
 Unify
 Divide
 Balance
 Unbalance
 Various attributes can act in concert toward one
goal or can serve separate roles of expression.

31.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
5- CHARACTER
 The Medium with which the
line is created.
 Monotony could result from
the consistent use of lines
of the same character
unless the unity so gained
is balanced by the variation
of other physical
properties.

32.
The Physical Characteristics of Line
5- CHARACTER
 The personality or
emotional quality of
the line is greatly
dependent on the
nature of the
medium chosen.

33.
The Expressive Properties of line
 Line Feelings:
 Somber
 Tired
 Energetic
 Brittle
 Alive
 The spectator must be receptive and
perceptive and have a reservoir of
experiences to draw upon.

34.
The Expressive Properties of line
EuphoriaTired
Angry
Confusion
ContentExcitedFrustrated
Lazy

35.
The Expressive Properties of line
 Through Composition
and Expression lines
come to life.
 All Important.
 Some lines are
Dominant and some
Subordinate but all
Important.
 Their real beauty lies in
the relationship they
establish in the form.

36.
The Expressive Properties of line
 Form: representational
or nonrepresentational
 Recognition and
enjoyment of the work is
more likely when the
work is understood on
the abstract level.

37.
The Expressive Properties of line
 Organization brings the
artist’s message to the
forefront.
 Planned composition.

38.
Line and the other art elements
 Line can possess color, value, and texture,
and it can create shape.
 Line can be admired for its own sake.

39.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Shape
 Contour Lines serves
as a continuous edge
of a figure, object, or
mass. Describe the
extremities of shapes
or masses.
 Cross-contours provide
information about the
nature of the surfaces
contained within those
edges.

40.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Shape

41.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Shape
 Modulated lines:
Describing the feature of
that face by cross-contour.
 Thick and Thin
 Irregular and curved
 Vary the Pressure
 Vary the Spaces

42.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Shape
 Separate Shapes, values, textures, and colors.

43.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Value
 Value:
 The contrast in
lightness and
darkness that a line
exhibits against its
background.
Light
Dark

44.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Value
 Value:
 Thick or Thin
 Heavy, wide lines
appear dark wile
narrow, thin lines
appear light.
Thin
Thick
Light
Dark

45.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Value
 Value:
 Varying Spaces
 Widely spaced lines
appear light, and
closely spaced lines
appear dark.
Less
More

46.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Value
 Value:
 Mixture of media

47.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Value
 Hatching is used to
produce value.

48.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Texture
 Groups of lines can
combine to produce
textures that suggest
a visual feeling for the
character of the
surface.
 Media and tools.

49.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Color
 Color adds an
important expressive
potential.
 Accentuate other
properties.

50.
Line and the other art elements
Line and Color
 Color and emotional
states.
#1 Circle, outside - symbolizes the
positive aspects.
#2 Circle - the six emotions, three
primary and three secondary,
represented by their colors.
#3 Circle - the negative aspects of
each emotion.
#4 Circle - Depression, the muddy
mixture of all negative emotions.

51.
The Spatial Characteristics of Line
 Spatial properties.
 Position  suggests space
 Value  advance and recede
 Warm colors generally advance
 Cool colors generally recede

52.
The Spatial Characteristics of Line
 Line with
varied
values
appear to
writhe and
twist in
space.

53.
The Spatial Characteristics of Line
 Every factor that
produces line has
something to say
about a line’s
location in space.
 The artist’s job is
to use these
factors to create
spatial order.

54.
The Spatial Characteristics of Line
 Spatial illusion

55.
Line and Representation
 Line creates
representation
on both abstract
and realistic
levels.
 Objective and
Subjective
implications.

56.
Line and Representation
 Line suggesting physical
presence and
psychological character.

57.
Line and Representation
 Line becomes a means
for transcribing the
expressive language of
ideas and emotions.
 Edges or Contours of
shapes
 Diagrams silhouette
 Encompasses spaces
and area.

58.
Line and Representation
 It depicts facts – an
architects plan, an
engineers drawing,
maps, or words.

59.
Line and Representation
 It expresses
actions in a
“gestural” sense –
past, present and
future.

60.
Line and Representation

61.
Art Fundamentals
Chapter 3
Line
End