THE LINE

A. What is a line?
The line, like the dot, is a simple graphic element that we use to
make shapes and images.
A dot represents a fix position in the space.
A line suggests movement.

Lines can be:

Straight.
Curved.
Depending on their structure, lines can be:
Simple or single lines are those which are made up of only one
stroke, either its straight or curved.

The single curved lines are drawn in only one direction, either
clockwise or counterclockwise (as in the letter C).

Clockwise Counterclockwise
Compound lines are those which are made up of several strokes in
different directions.
Broken lines are those which are made up of several segments joined together.

Compound curved line is created when a curved line changes direction. To draw
a compound curved line you have to follow both clockwise and counterclockwise
directions (such as in the letter S).

Mixed lines are those which are made up of straight and curved strokes joined
together.
Also lines can be classified in:
Open lines.

Closed lines.
B. Lines give shape to objects.
One of the most important functions of the line is to assemble shapes in order to
create images.
Lines for writing.
Typography is the art and technique of arranging letters in order to make
language visible, to make it part of the image. This involves the selection of
typefaces*, point size, line length, line spacing, adjusting the spaces between
groups of letters, etc. * Typeface: Fuente, tipo de letra.

Typography is performed by graphic designers, art directors, comic book artists,

graffiti artists, etc.
The practice and study of typography is very broad, including architectural
lettering, poster design, advertising, logotypes, etc.

A logo is a trademark, company

emblem, which combines the use
of type, colors, shapes and/or
images. Each brand has a different
logo and uses different typography
in order to give a personal image of
the company and the product.
 A calligram is a poem, phrase, or word in which
the typeface, calligraphy or handwriting is
arranged in a way that creates a visual image.
The image created by the words expresses
visually what the word, or words, say
 Lines for drawing.
To draw a shape we use contour lines that define objects within an image.
When we enclose a space, there are three parts to the form we create. These
are:
Contour. This is the outside line of a
figure.
Silhouette. It is defined by an enclosed
space of the same color or texture.
Enclosed space. It is the set of lines which Contour.

draw the inner surface of a shape. It is the

set of lines which are inside of the contour
and give us more information about the Silhouette.
shape of the object.

Enclosed space.
 Lines for shading.
We give a shape a sense of volume and depth
when we shade it with lines. We can shade
dark areas by drawing parallel lines close
together or shade lighter areas by spacing the
lines further apart.
We can also change the thickness of our lines
when shading. Finer lines create lighter areas.

Values are the different shades of grey created

when you draw by varying the density of the
shading lines, varying the pressure used in
holding pencils and/or using different pencils.
Value scale refers to the range of different
values from light to dark or from dark to light.
Types of shading:
Hatching is a shading technique that consists of a series of lines following
the same direction drawn closely together to give the illusion of values.

Many different styles of hatching sets

can be rendered, from lines that are
very noticeable, to lines drawn so
closely together that they look like a
solid tone.
 Crosshatching is a shading
technique in which one set of lines
crosses over (overlaps) another set.
 Lines for coloring.
We can create different areas or surfaces with colored lines: parallel lines
drawn at an equal distance create a surface. We can make new areas if we
change the direction of a line or alternate lines of two or three colors.

This painting is Mulholland drive: The road to the Studio, by the English painter,
draftsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, David Hockney.
David Hockney based this painting on his memories of drives through Los Angeles,
where he has lived since 1960. He had to drive everyday back and forth to his
studio through these winding roads.
This is the painting Starry
night, by the Dutch post-
impressionist artist Vincent
Van Gogh.
It is inspired by the night
sky in Arles, France. The
idea of painting at night
intrigued Van Gogh. It was
important for him to
capture the sparkling
colors of the night sky and
the artificial lighting that
was new to this time in
history.
 C. The expressive value of the line.
The way lines are drawn on paper can bring a drawing to life and communicate
multiple ideas and feelings, such as peace and serenity, pain, happiness, etc.
To learn how to draw correctly, it is important to understand the graphic and
artistic qualities of the line.
Every kind of line has a different expressive value:
Straight lines suggest rigidity, Horizontal straight lines express
precision and constancy. stability and peace. The horizontal
direction gives us the idea of rest, thats
why it is mostly used in static
compositions.
 Inclined lines denote movement, decision, instability, and depth. It is a more
dynamic line. It can create the third dimension in a composition: depth.

Cubic space division, by

M.C. Escher.
The slanting lines give
Mental State I: Those who leave, by Umberto Boccioni. the sensation of depth:
The inclined lines transmit movement. Axonometric perspective.
Star of Persia I, by Frank
Stella.
The inclined lines, like
arrows pointing towards
the centre, transmit
sensation of movement Tower of Babel, by M.C. Escher.
and depth. The oblique straight lines give the
sensation of depth: linear
Simultaneous composition, by Theo van Doesburg. perspective.
The inclined lines transmit instability and
 Vertical straight lines express
strength, power, spirituality and
elegance.
Curved lines express movement and
sensuality.
Concentric curved lines and spirals go
towards a point or area of maximum
attention. They force us to look directly
at this area and create a focal point of
tension. They convey concentration.
They can also transmit the sensation of
vertigo or dizziness.
 Radial lines suggest light, explosion Broken lines have a zigzag shape and
and luminosity. sharply change direction, transmitting
imbalance, chaos, violence, tension and
lack of organization.
Dynamism of a
car, by Luigi
Russolo.
It transmits
movement and
tension.

Composition VIII,
by Wassilly
Kandinsky.
The broken lines
transmit tension
and chaos.