Expressive Qualities Of Line

Design Fundamentals • Contents: – Expressive Qualities of Line

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – – – – – – – – –

Tightly Controlled Line Freely Gestured Line Line That shows anger Line that shoes Chaos Horizontal Lines Vertical lines Wide Lines Gentle Curves Staccato Lines

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – Tightly Controlled Line • Start a line just using the tip. Slowly increase the pressure as you drag the brush so that the lines flares out. Continue to draw until the brush is dry (a).

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – Freely Gestured Line • Line directs the viewer’s eye. If a line has a smooth surface, the eye travels along it easily; if rough or broken, it slows the eye. Lines may be tightly controlled with small hand movements (b) or freely gestured through space (c).

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – Line that shows anger: • Line that rises and falls into sharp points may suggest anger, hostility, danger (d).

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – Line that shows chaos: • Line that continually veers one way and then another with no resolution may evoke a send of chaos (e).

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – Horizontal Line • Horizontal line may be read as calmness or emotional flatness (f).

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – Wide Lines • Wide lines may convey a bold feeling (g).

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – Gentle Curves • Gentle curves may provide a pleasant, restful sensation (h).

Design Fundamentals • Expressive Qualities of Lines: – Staccato Lines: • One can almost “hear” the different sounds implied by lines, be they staccato (i) or lyrically flowing.