Line
Line is the most basic element and is used when creating other elements. Explore how to use line creatively by experimenting as widely as you can. Consider where a type of line will help make an artwork communicate more effectively to an audience.
When watching the video below, I will stop the video at times so that you can try out some of the techniques yourself and deepen your learning.
Exercise:
When watching the video below, I will stop the video at times so that you can try out some of the techniques yourself and deepen your learning.
Exercise:
- Stop video at 2:50 Blind contour line exercise
- Stop video at 4:14 Contour line exercise
- Stop video at 5:03 Learning to draw using shape guides
- Stop video at 6:58 Draw lines that show:
Calm, e.g. a beach using calming line types
Energy e.g. a lightning storm using energetic lines
- End of video Use line to show movement, e.g. a ball bouncing, a bird flying, someone running, etc.
This video shows more examples for how line is used in artworks.
Task:
Contour and Variety Line Drawing
Weighting:
15%
Assessment Criteria:
Weighting:
15%
Assessment Criteria:
- Overall design is unique to the individual and is aesthetically pleasing (thought has been put into the layout of subject matter and placement of line types)
- There is a large variety and quality of line used
Steps:
- Brainstorm as many different types of line as you can on a piece of paper. We refer to this as ‘mark making.’
- Use the resources available to help you if/when you get stuck.
-Types of Mark Making.pdf
-Exemplars: https://kapundahigh.weebly.com/line-and-texture.html - Draw a design or outline that you allows you to apply a lot of lines, realistic or abstract. Examples of things that you could apply texture to are a rainforest, school of fish, coral reef, an abstract set of shapes, etc.
- Use as many different types of line as you can across your drawing. Consider how line makes texture and how line and texture can suit certain subjects more. E.g., fur on an animal could be short dashes repeated or loose scribbles while a desert floor could be made of many dots (stippling).
- Hold your artwork at a distance (a peer can help) and analyse your work. How do you want an audience to see your work? Do you want the subject to be visible? Or perhaps you want it to camouflage with it’s background? Consider what changes you can make to communicate best with your audience.
- Consider the quality of your lines, can you emphasise (thicken) some lines to help improve your work?
- On a separate lined piece of paper list all the types of line that you have used
See this example below, there are many different lines included.
- There are different types of scales, one type zigzagging down its back, rounded lines on the face and curving, pointed lines on the body.
- Crosshatching and short dashes to create tone on the legs and underside.
- Thick lines to emphasise movement and highlight the form of the lizard.
- Scribbling lines in the dirt for texture.
- Quick dashes for grass.
- Shading in the dirt that leaves a white line underneath the thick lines.
In this example, notice how one object can look different depending on the type of lines used.
Choosing a type of line allows you to communicate with your audience.
Choosing a type of line allows you to communicate with your audience.
Here is an example of an abstract artwork using line.
You do not need to make your work look realistic for it to be engaging!
You do not need to make your work look realistic for it to be engaging!
You may wish to look at zentangle examples to help come up with ideas.
Word bank
Descriptive words for line:
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