Did you know there are seven basic building blocks of art, which can be found in every
single artwork whether you tried to put them there or not?
These seven building blocks are known as the Elements of Art and Design, and today we'll
be taking a look at the first and simplest element: Line.
[music playing] Welcome back to Mr. New's Art Class, it's wonderful to see your smiling
faces today!
If you've ever been in a math class, you've no doubt been taught that lines have to be
straight, and they go on forever.
That's true for the mathematical definition, but this ain't math class.
It's art class!
When you're in math class, do what your math teacher says.
When you're in Mr. New's Art Class, make art!
For artists, lines come in all different types, and they have many different uses.
Let's take a look at some of the most-used types of lines and how different artists use
them in different ways.
First, lines can go in different directions.
The three main classifications for direction are horizontal (sideways), vertical (up-and-down),
or diagonal (anywhere between horizontal and vertical).
It's important to note that diagonal lines can go in lots of different directions, so
you often have to be more specific when talking about them.
Next, lines don't have to be straight.
They could also be jagged zigzags with pointy tips, or wavy with smooth curves.
This well-known logo design for the Nike brand uses a single curved line to express an upward
movement.
Often, lines can even loop over themselves or overlap under other lines.
There are many different ways that lines can intersect, such as the way we draw different
letter forms.
(Yes, drawing letters is a form of art, too!)
Another way lines can be used together is to make them parallel.
In math class, there are very strict rules about parallel lines always being straight,
but in art we have the flexibility to say that wavy or zigzag lines can also be parallel.
Parallel just means that they go the same direction, and follow along each other's path,
such as the zigzag lines on the top of this pole painted by Bridget Riley
And lines don't always have to be the same thickness, either.
Using different line weights (or thicknesses) is crucial for creating depth in line drawings
or doodles.
Line is considered to be the simplest element because it's often the first that artists
learn about when learning to draw.
Like you see in this Van Gogh painting, most artists start their work by drawing the outlines
and contours of the objects within their image.
However, many artists choose to subdue these lines or eliminate them altogether, instead
using the other elements such as color and value to create the barriers at the edges
of objects.
Even so, anywhere that two objects point towards each other or have any kind of barrier between
them, viewers eyes manage to imply lines that aren't really there.
Lines are most commonly used either by themselves or mixed together to create shapes - which
are the next element that we'll discuss next Thursday.
Lines can also be used as hatching or crosshatching to create differing values, which we'll cover
in two weeks' time.
In the meantime, try practicing making all the different types of lines we've talked
about here today, and see if you can come up with any that we haven't talked about!
And most importantly, study your own artwork and the artwork of others to see how lines
are used in different ways to create different effects.
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And as always, thanks again for watching, and I'll see you next time.