LINES
What is a line?
A line is a visual element
of an image,
Similar to dots, textures, colours and shapes.
A line is a combination of a series of dots that are
continuous, with an exact distance between each dot.
It is the graphic representation of a dot in motion.
Types of lines
A geometric line
We must use special Technical Drawing instruments to draw a geometric line
A graphic lineA graphic line is freer and can be made
with or without special equipment.
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)Woman with Yellow Hair, December 1931
The line can have different shapes and dimensions…
long
short
Curved
Straight
broken
wavy
thin
thick
continuous
discontinuous
All these types of lines transmit graphic messages, ideas and
feelings.
Artists show their personalities through the line. It´s their
personal and non-transferable mark.
The graphic styles of different artists
Kandinsky- Composition VIII (1923)
Picasso – Maternity (1963)
Giacometti
Goya - El Asno Literato (1796)
Ingres- Odalisque (1825)
Graphic and artistic qualities
of lines
The line has the expressive and symbolic power to transmit concepts and sensations.
The way lines are drawn on paper can allow a drawing to communicate
multiple ideas and feelings.
Vertical lines are lines that go
straight up. These lines express
strength, elegance and
spirituality, too.
Mondrian- Bosque (1912)
Fernand Khnopff - At fosset under the fir trees, 1894
• Horizontal lines transmit peacefulness, serenity, repose and stability.
Ferdinannd Hodler - El lago Léman visto desde Chexbres, 1905
Inclined lines denote
movement, decision,
descent or tragedy.
Egon Schiele - Arboles otoñales, 1911
Archipenko- Coquette (s.XX)
Curved lines produce a feeling of
movement and dynamism.
Straight lines suggest rigidity, constancy and precision.
Luis Castellanos - arquitectura y árbol,
1935
Broken, curved and radial lines
transmit a feeling of chaos,
contradiction, action and dynamism.
Georges Grosz, Tumult, 1916
The line is the principal element used to structure space.
Tension lines (imaginary lines that unite the most prominent points of an image) help
us to discover the different areas into which a space is divided.
Lines help us to analyse images.
Other qualities of the line
Other qualities of the line
One of the most important functions of
the line is to assemble shapes in
order to create images.
We give a shape a sense of volume and
depth when we shade it with lines.
Albert Gleizes- La ciudad 1914
ACTIVITY
The expressive qualities of
the line
Materials needed•A pencil.
•Black felt pens of different thicknesses.•A ruler.•A image of Asturias
1- Look for information about the cultural and artistic
heritage of Asturias.
2- Choose an image of Asturias
3- Using a graphite pencil, copy the main
lines of the image onto your worksheet.
4- Create a sense of volume and depth by
using different types of lines, changing the thickness and the density of the line.
5- Use only pencils.