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line
Line has various attributes,
including quality, movement and direction.
Quality: Lines can be thick, thin, smooth or rough. They can be
continuous or broken.
Movement: Paul Klee defined a line as "a point that sets itself in
motion." The eye follows the movement created by line.
Direction: The direction taken by a line can control the mood of a
design. Horizontal lines can be calm, while vertical lines can be uplifting.
Special lines include contour, character, motion and compositional lines.
Contour: Although they do no exist in nature, lines are frequently
used in art to outline the form of an object (contour lines).
Character: Lines can create light, shadow or mood. Hatching (a series of parallel lines placed
close together) and cross-hatching (hatching in a variety of directions) are often used to
develop contrasting areas of light and dark (chiaroscuro)..
Motion: The eye tends to follow lines, even lines that don't really
exist. A pointing finger or a sideways glance causes the eye to look toward the
intended object of the gesture.
Compositional: Lines (real or implied) can lead the eye through a
composition. Lines are also used to balance a composition. An arm which is
thrust forward is balanced by the opposite leg being pulled back (contraposto).