Element Line
The term or element called line is a mark created by human beings on a surface. In mathematics it is defined as the movement of a point along a surface, which has neither width nor depth but length. Other definitions found in dictionaries: "A short or long mark between two points" and "a stroke between two points in space".
From a philosophical point of view, nature does not create lines. It is a human invention. Rather, it is the way we humans translate our visual world, in order to reproduce it in 2 and 3 dimensional media (more about 3D later). Anyway, lines are an invention that humans created to explain the phenomenon of an object's surface ending at a point and another object's surface beginning at the same point. On the other hand, the same thing happens when an object ends and space begins. This is what we also call the boundary or contour of the objects included in the conversation.
If we think of their physical state, the lines have no more than one dimension. They are only long. Once we can add width, it stops being a line and becomes a rectangle.
Let's identify the types
Implied line:
An implied line in art is a line that is not intentionally marked, but other objects or elements are aligned so that they visually form a line.
Real line:
A real line is a mark made by the artist in the form of a line. Contours of objects, details of their surfaces and borders of areas are lines made by the artist. As said before, nature has no lines, only edges and surface borders. We can say that it does "align" certain things but it does not create lines. Again we return to the created concept of the human being where we call the edges or "borders" of the areas of the objects as lines.
Structure and importance of the line
Lines can have different importance in different artworks. For example they can have these uses:
- As "boundaries" or delimitations between objects.
- For example, like the fences around a property as seen from the sky.
- As implicit lines.
- These lines do not exist but are formed with the eye by the aligned position (in line) of other elements and objects.
- As a surface tone.
- When drawn close to each other, the area becomes darker and the more space between the lines the "lighter" the tone of the surface art. Stippling, simple scratching and crosshatching are some of the methods used to create tone with lines.
- As surface texture.
- When drawing a tree you can create the texture of the trunk with crosshatching and other techniques to give a sense of texture to the trunk.
line names
Common classifications of lines are:
Horizontal - most often classified as soft, peaceful and serene.
Vertical - constantly used to denote strength, stability and charisma in art
Diagonal - commonly used to denote movement as they give the impression of looking up or down in art.
Curves - used to cause a sense of movement like diagonals but with more grace and serenity.
Zigzag - often used to denote tension, terror, uncontrolled joy and other exaggerated emotions.
Personal Note
Art masters throughout history have stated that drawing is the basis of all art forms. Despite being an opinion, this is accepted by a large number of artists. Everyone can draw. A personal anecdote I can share with you is something I used with my students when I was in the public teaching field. When a student indicated to me that they could not draw I would ask them to write their name. Once done, I would show them that all the letters and marks they made were line based and that is all that is necessary to draw. I would then explain that saying "I can't draw" is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
So, if you are ready for an adventure, grab, take or look for your pencil, marker, pen or any other instrument and let's start drawing...
