Line

Simply defined a line is the distance between two points. The way in which it gets from point A → B
defines its character and appearance. Lines can be straight or curved, long or short, horizontal, vertical
or diagonal and have various properties, such as length, width, character and directional movement
shift.

Contour Line
• A single line creating an outline of a figure or an object can show the height, width and even
details of what is being studied. The word "contour" in art refers to an outline of the subject
being studied. Traditionally, it presents only the exterior edges of the object. A plain contour is
one line that is connected with no shading, emphasizing the shell of the object. Contour lines
can suggest weight by pressing down harder or using the wider edge of a drawing instrument to
create a thicker, denser line. To suggest that something is light or delicate, the line can become
thinner and lighter in color, using a pointed tip or pressing gently on the surface of the paper. A
confident line can swiftly change dynamic of both bold and delicate within one gesture with a
drawing instrument.
 Parallel or Cross Hatching Lines
• Marks created with repeating lines are used to create texture, patterns or shading. This is often
seen in renderings created by master artists and illustrators. By creating lines that are close
together or intersecting them at diagonal angles, delicate or harsh shading can be achieved.
Typically these lines are not blended. The more lines that are clustered next to one another or
crossing over each other, the darker the shading becomes. The shading can also be altered by
the pressure of the tool used to make the marks. However, if ink is being used, pressure will not
alter the intensity of color. Instead, choosing to make less marks or make them further apart
from one another will give the effect of lighter shadows.
 Continuous Line Drawing

• While observing an object, the drawing implement remains on the the page with uninterrupted
contact creating enclosed shapes. Oftentimes, lines will have to cross over themselves
repeatedly in order to finish drawing the subject being studied. Examples of this can be seen in
drawings by Pablo Picasso and Egon Schiele. They were able to create beautiful line qualities
by never lifting their drawing instrument off the page. Hands are particularly interesting when
drawn in this style, as each knuckle and fingernail is detailed by lines that intersect and overlap
moving on to the next detail.
 Shape

A Shape is an element of art. Specifically, it is a line enclosed upon itself, the boundaries of which are
defined by other elements (i.e.: lines, colors, values, textures, etc.). There are four different types of
shapes, Geometric, Natural, Abstract, and non-objective

Geometric shapes

• These are very structured, often symmetrical, and mainly contain very straight and precise lines.
Many simple shapes such as: squares, rectangles, circles, ellipses, triangles, are all geometric
shapes.
 Natural shapes

• These are usually complex and most often represent real world objects. Because the real world
is rarely perfect, natural shapes are more fluid, irregular, asymmetrical, or random as opposed to
geometric shapes. This picture represents various plants found in nature, while also
demonstrating different techniques for inking. Which Is why I like to use it as an example.
 Abstract shapes
• Abstract shapes are images used to convey concise meaning or identity without the use of
written language. Abstract shapes may be universal to all people or culturally based, and are
often stylized natural shapes. Many signs, icons, and logos use abstract shapes.

• Abstract shapes are often silhouetted and exaggerated to focus on recognizable shape rather
than being realistic. The silhouettes and lack of detail make them easily understood from a
distance and by people with different cultural backgrounds. Because most abstract shapes are
used to communicate, they must command attention, convey a clear and simple meaning, and
command respect.
 Non-objective shapes

• Art that is not representational, containing no recognizable figures or objects is known as “Non-
objective”. The term has become less popular, but was originally used to describe a type of
abstract art influenced by cubism that eliminated the idea of depth, and instead concentrated on
composing a harmonious arrangement of grids, shapes, and color. The non-objective neoplastic-
ism of Piet Mondrian's rigidly geometric painting is a perfect example.