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This lesson investigates the art element line and how it is used to show movement and emotion in an artwork. Students will study the artwork of others and explore line using pencil, pen, wax crayons, colouring pencils and wire.
This lesson investigates the art element line and how it is used to show movement and emotion in an artwork. Students will study the artwork of others and explore line using pencil, pen, wax crayons, colouring pencils and wire.
Learning Intentions
Learning Intentions
In this lesson, you will:
In this lesson, you will:
• explore line through a variety of mark making techniques using a range of media
• explore line through a variety of mark making techniques using a range of media
• look at, respond to and recognise the art element line in a range of works
• look at, respond to and recognise the art element line in a range of works
• be introduced to life drawing
• be introduced to life drawing
• develop and realise a wire sculpture based on a blind continuous line self portrait
• develop and realise a wire sculpture based on a blind continuous line self portrait
• reflect on the process
• reflect on the process
'A Line is a Dot that went for a Walk' Paul Klee
'A Line is a Dot that went for a Walk' Paul Klee
While there are an endless number of ways to draw lines, there are actually only 2 different types of line - Straight and Curved. All other lines are variations or combinations of these two types.
The better you become at recognising and understanding the use of line, the better your artwork will become.
Watch these youtube videos and make notes in your visual art sketchpad (your notes should include drawings of a variety of lines-horizontal, vertical, diagonal, zig zag, thick, thin, spiral, wavy, straight etc.)
exploring line in artwork
exploring line in artwork
Mark Making
Mark Making
In your sketchbooks, use a pencil to make a variety of different lines to express the following words. Change the pressure of your pencil to vary the weight of your hard and soft lines:
Calm, Angry, Gentle, Sad, Energetic, Scared, Happy, Parallel, Hard, Slow, Soft, Long, Short, Thick, Thin and Broken-Up
learn to look for lines
learn to look for lines
Your drawing skills will improve if you practice looking for the lines that make up the scene, person or object you wish to draw. First, find the lines, observe if they are curvy or straight, thick or thin, horizontal, vertical or diagonal, light or dark, perspective etc. Then draw exactly what you see. When you draw the lines accurately, you will start to see shapes forming. You will learn more about the art element shape in a later lesson.
Landscape
Landscape
Line Drawing
Line Drawing
Portrait
Portrait
Line Drawing
Line Drawing
Leaf Studies
Leaf Studies
For this activity you will first need to gather a selection of leaves. Take a leaf and really look at every detail of it-what shape is it? Can you identify it? Can you name the parts of the leaf? How prominent is the rib and is it the same thickness from the base of the leaf to the apex (tip)? What direction do the veins go? Study the lines within the leaf and using a 2B pencil do a sketch of the leaf in your visual art sketchpads (line only, no shading or blending).
Watch this video which demonstrates leaf rubbing. Then make several rubbings with a variety of pencil grades, different coloured wax crayons and colouring pencils. Take rubbings of the front and the back of the leaf. Make notes in your visual art sketchpad stating what media you used, what side of the leaf and which medium achieved the best results. Compare your line drawing to the rubbings you have made-compare the detail, which shows more lines? Then make another line drawing of your leaf (remember line only, no tonal work). How does your second drawing compare to your first? Describe any differences? Which of your drawings do you prefer? Make notes in your visual sketchpad of your findings.
The aim of this activity is to encourage you to really look at and see the detail on the leaf. The differences between your first leaf drawing and subsequent drawings should show evidence of improved observation skills. The more you practice looking and drawing, the better you will become at both.
Leaf Rubbings.mov
Continuous Line drawing
Continuous Line drawing
Blind Continuous (or Contour) Line Drawing
This is a drawing exercise that is great for improving hand eye coordination and observational skills. The drawing is done in one continuation line from start to finish and without looking at the paper you are drawing on. Your eyes stay focused on the object while you allow your pen/pencil/marker to move in unison with your eyes as they travel around the object you are drawing. Your drawing will be abstract in nature and the lines will be overlapping and somewhat out of place, but it is these features that make the drawing interesting. This is a relaxing and enjoyable exercise without concern about how 'good' your drawing will be.
Continuous Line Drawing
In this exercise you may look at the object while you are drawing it, but it is also done in one continuous line. Once you begin drawing, do not lift your pen or pencil off the page until the drawing is complete. Your line drawings can be left as they are, colour could be added or you could make a collage with them. Get creative and experiment.
Blind Continuous Line Drawing.mov
blind Continuous Line self portrait
blind Continuous Line self portrait
Using the blind continuous line drawing technique, practice drawing self portraits. Remember not to look at the paper while you are drawing. Choose your most interesting self portraits and submit to the google classroom assignment link below.
Wire 'line' Sculpture
Wire 'line' Sculpture
Research the artist, Alexander Calder. Draw your favourite Calder wire sculpture and write some information about the artist in your sketchbooks.
Remember to name the work and state where it is displayed. It is also important to cite the source of your information so include the website address.
Create your own wire sculpture based on one of your continuous line self portraits. Without cutting any away or adding more, manipulate the length of wire given to you by the teacher to make your sculpture.
Equipment and Materials required:
Approx. 85cm of thin modelling wire
Long Nose Pliers
student work
student work
Success CRitria
Success CRitria
Students should be able to:
Create artwork that demonstrates the use of various mark-making techniques with a minimum of three different types of media to explore the concept of lines
Recognise and respond to the presence of lines in a variety of art works, describing how they contribute to the overall composition
Develop and construct a wire sculpture that represents a blind continuous line self-portrait, ensuring the use of lines is a fundamental element of the sculpture
Reflect on your creative process, discussing the challenges and insights gained from working with lines and the development of the wire sculpture
task for early finishers
task for early finishers
Op Art Hand Drawing.movOp Art Hand
Op Art Hand
Combine the elements of line, colour and pattern to create an optical illusion 3D hand drawing
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