Knowing the Types of Lines Will Help You Use Them in Your Own Artwork

What is Line in Terms of Fine art?

Line is one of the seven elements of fine art.  It is considered by many to be the most basic element of fine art. In terms of art, line is considered "a moving dot".

A simple way of thinking of a line is to imagine a point that moves...

Drawing and Painting with Line

Line has an countless number of uses in the creation of both drawings and paintings. Although we typically associate line with drawing, it's also foundational to painting.

Contour Lines

Perhaps the most obvious use of line is when it is used to ascertain the edges or boundaries of a subject area. Nosotros can obviously communicate a discipline's edges by using line. In virtually cases, when nosotros begin a cartoon, we start by drawing the outlines of the subject.

The outlines are only the beginning since line is too used to depict the details on the subject equally well. Ordinarily, nosotros can simplify areas of contrast on a subject area into a line.

In the epitome below, we can come across the photo reference next to the resulting line drawing of a flower. The bloom is communicated conspicuously in the line drawing. However, you'll note that the drawing is non an exact replica of the reference. There are only lines used in the drawing, even so at that place are many more than complexities present in the photo.

The drawing above is part of "Drawing Bootcamp". Click here to view Drawing Bootcamp (Membership required).

Every bit we can meet, line is great for describing a subject in a drawing, but outlines on their own are not complete. Other elements of art (specifically value) must be used in addition to line to create a realistic cartoon.

Lines that are used to communicate the edges and/or to describe the details of a bailiwick (like we run into above) are called contour lines. Nosotros commonly call these lines outlines.

Line Quality

Line quality refers to the characteristics of the line fatigued. In many cases, line quality refers to the thickness of a line. By varying the line quality (including both thick and sparse lines), we create drawings that are more interesting and provide more information to the viewer.

Take a look at the line drawing of the apple beneath. Notice how the contour lines are thicker in areas. A thicker line is used where nosotros await to run into shadow and where the apple itself is a piddling thicker.

In this way, nosotros can communicate a bit about the form of the apple and the light using a unproblematic line.

Cross Contour Lines

Cantankerous contour lines are more than circuitous than contour lines. Cross contour lines flow over the form of the subject. These lines tin be implied or visible. Cross contour lines are mostly used when line is used to shade a cartoon with hatching and cantankerous hatching.

To better understand cantankerous contour lines, you may imagine running your finger over the surface of an apple. Get-go from the stalk and move down to the bottom. As y'all move your finger, imagine leaving a line behind. If yous continue repeating this, making "lines" with your finger all around the apple, you lot would have created cross contour lines.

We tin see this illustrated in the image below...

The importance of understanding the concept of cross contour lines lies in shading (or adding shadow and highlight) with line. Depending on the form of the object yous are drawing, these lines may bend or modify direction.

For more on cantankerous contour lines, see the post-obit lessons...

• Cross Contour Lines - 25 Days to Improve Drawings (Membership required)
• Line and Value - The Pen and Ink Experience (Membership required)
• How to Use Cross Profile Lines to Create the Illusion of Form

Shading with Line

Line can be used to shade drawings as well. Shading is the process of developing the value (art element). Value is the darkness or lightness of a color. Darker values typically represent shadows while lighter values typically represent highlights or lighter tones.

Lines tin be full-bodied to create darker values. The more lines that are used, the darker the perceived value. Lighter tones can be achieved by allowing more of the white of the paper to testify through or with less full-bodied lines.

We tin see this concept illustrated in the image below. The pepper has been shaded using lines. In areas where the value is darker, more lines are used. In areas where the value is lighter, less lines are used. Y'all'll also notice that line quality (variety in line thickness) is as well used to create a more interesting drawing.

The drawing above is part of "25 Days to Better Drawings". Click hither to view 25 Days to Improve Drawings (Membership required).

You'll besides find that the lines used to shade the drawing bend and change direction slightly based on the form of the pepper. This illustrates the concept of cantankerous profile lines discussed earlier.

Hatching

Hatching is the process of using directional linear strokes that do non cross over each other to develop the shading in a drawing.

Hatching can exist used with any cartoon or painting medium but it is at its best when used with linear drawing medium. Beneath nosotros can come across a drawing that was created with pen and ink that utilizes hatching.

The cartoon in a higher place is part of "Subjects with Pen and Ink". Click here to view Subjects with Pen and Ink (Membership required).

Cross Hatching

Cross hatching is the process of developing the value (or shading) in a drawing or painting using lines that cross over each other. Simply like with hatching, the greater the concentration of marks, the darker the value. Hatching and cross hatching are ofttimes used together.

Beneath, you'll find a drawing created with pen and ink that utilizes cross hatching.

The drawing in a higher place is role of "Subjects with Pen and Ink". Click here to view Subjects with Pen and Ink (Membership required).

Types of Lines

Lines come in all shapes and sizes and the types of line that can be drawn are countless. Some common forms of line include horizontal, vertical, diagonal, zigzag, and curved. Other types of line include broken lines and implied lines.

Horizontal lines are lines that are parallel to the horizon and generally flow from left to correct or vice versa.

Vertical lines are lines that move up and down without any slant.

Diagonal lines are lines that slant.

Zig zag lines are lines that change direction abruptly.

Curved lines gradually alter management.

Broken lines include open spaces just proceed on a path. These lines may imply an border or be used to communicate a highlight.

Unsaid lines may include the open space in betwixt broken lines. These lines may non be visible simply are implied due to dissimilarity in value or the inclusion of broken lines.

Run across also: Implied and Broken Lines

Line - Vocabulary Terms

Line - element of art.  In terms of art, line tin exist described as a moving dot. Line is mayhap the almost basic element of drawing.

Line Variation - the apply of a diversity of line including width, length, texture, thickness, etc. to add interest to a drawing or painting.

Length - lines can be long or brusk.

Width - lines tin be wide or skinny.

Texture - lines tin be crude or smooth.

Direction - lines can move in any direction.

Degree of curve - lines can curve gradually or not at all.

Hatching - lines that menstruation in the same direction in order to develop value or shading

Line quality or line weight - refers to the thickness or thinness of a line.  By varying the line quality artists can brand objects appear more 3-dimensional and more interesting.

Crosshatching - lines that cantankerous over each other in order to develop value or shading.

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Source: https://thevirtualinstructor.com/line.html

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