https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/line • Posted by Aurum Press
The most basic element of art is line. Although line is most commonly associated with drawing, there are a lot of linear elements in painting. For example, the negative space between marks creates lines, as do the width and length of the brushstrokes themselves. Line is usually what every painter starts with, whether it is a pencil sketch or the lines of an underpainting. A line documents our eyes following the edge of a form. For this painting, I chose a few linear objects in my studio and placed them on my floor to look at the contrasting types of lines simultaneously. The rectilinear lines of the floorboards and the curvilinear lines of the power cords made for a great study about line.
The most basic element of art is line. Although line is most commonly associated with drawing, there are a lot of linear elements in painting. For example, the negative space between marks creates lines, as do the width and length of the brushstrokes themselves. Line is usually what every painter starts with, whether it is a pencil sketch or the lines of an underpainting. A line documents our eyes following the edge of a form. For this painting, I chose a few linear objects in my studio and placed them on my floor to look at the contrasting types of lines simultaneously. The rectilinear lines of the floorboards and the curvilinear lines of the power cords made for a great study about line.
EXERCISE 1 Choose a few objects in your home or studio that lend themselves to painting a variety of different qualities of line. Objects like kitchen utensils would be great subjects for this exercise. You could even use your painting materials— pencils, brushes—to make a still life. T I P When exploring lines as a motif in your own painting, remember to spend just as much time looking at your painting as you do looking at the still life. Accuracy in depiction is not as important as the quality of lines and marks in the painting. When painting these lines, choose the appropriate size brush for the width of the lines you’re depicting. Make sure to add a lot of water or thinner to your paint to get a very fluid consistency.