LineAn element of art that is the path of a

moving point through space.

Essential Questions

• What role does line have in works of art?• How can line be used as a tool of

expression?• How have artists used line as a form of

visual communication?• What artists have used line extensively in

their art?

What is line?

• Line is a recording of a movement. It takes movement to make a line.

• Line can be used to lead a viewer through a work of art. It is a compositional tool.

• A line is one dimensional. Line has both length and width, but its width is usually very small compared with its length. Dimension means the amount of space something takes in one direction.

• Line is everywhere. Artists can draw line with a pencil on paper or with a stick into wet clay. Lines can be tree trunks, yarn, spider webs. These are seen as lines because their length is more important than their width.

Types of Line…

• Outline: A line that shows or creates the outer edge of a shape.

• Implied Line: A series of points that the viewer’s eyes automatically connect.

Kinds of Lines…

• Vertical Line: moves straight up and down. They do not lean at all. A vertical line drawn on a piece of paper is perpendicular to the bottom edge of the paper.

• Horizontal Line: are parallel to the horizon. They do not slant. When you lie flat on the floor, your body forms a horizontal line.

• Diagonal Line: These lines slant. Diagonals are somewhere between a vertical and horizontal line. They look as if they are falling.

• Curved Line: change direction gradually. When you draw wiggly lines, you are putting together a series of curves.

• Zigzag Line: are made from a combination of diagonal lines. The diagonals form angles and change direction suddenly.

Line Variation…

• Length: Lines can be long or short.

• Width: Lines can be thick or thin.

• Texture: Lines can be rough or smooth.

• Direction: Lines can move in any direction, such as vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

• Degree of curve: Lines can curve gradually or not at all, become wavy, or form spirals.

Line and Value

• Value: the element of art that describes the darkness or lightness of an object. Value depends on how much light a surface reflects. A surface has a dark value if it reflects little light. It has a light value if it reflects a lot of light.

• Crosshatching: the technique of using crossed lines for shading. Each time you make a mark on a piece of paper you are making a line with a certain value determined by how hard you press. Crosshatching is organizing lines of a certain density and value to create a continuous value.

Expressive Qualities of Line

• Depending on its direction, a line can express different ideas of feelings.

Line Movement

• Verticals lines are static, or inactive. They appear to be at rest.

• Horizontal lines are also static. They express feelings of peace, rest, quiet and stability. They give the feeling of permanence or solidarity.

• Curved lines change direction and express activity.

• Diagonal lines express instability, tension, activity, and excitement.

• Zigzag lines create confusion. They are extremely active and may evoke feelings of excitement and nervousness.

Kinds of Line Drawing…• Contour Drawing: A contour line drawing defines the edges of

surface ridges of an object. A contour line also creates a boundary separating one area from another.

• Gesture Drawing: A gesture drawing captures an expressive movement. A gesture drawing uses very little detail and is drawn quickly. Marks are made loosely—even recklessly—in order to capture movement. They represent the interior of an object.

• Calligraphic Drawing: Calligraphic means beautiful handwriting. In China and Japan, calligraphy is used to form characters that represent the language. Calligraphic lines are usually made with brushstrokes that change from thin to thick in one stroke.