Line; The Heart Of Art
Throughout times the ever faithful heart of the art keeps on beating. This versatile and energetic tool plays an important role in the complex arena of the art. We all have benefitted from this think we call “line”. It is quite okay to say a line is more than just a line. It is that tool/ element that helps us to see things separately and individually. Things can be distinguish individually within an artistic composition through the use of lines. From this combinations of line we created that baby which we all called shape. In order for this shape to mature we enhance it with various lines which we called shading or toning. The maturity of this specific shape to form is accomplished by the combinations of lines. These combinations comes in various ways and may derived from these- hatching, crosshatching scribbling etc.
For one to ignore and denies the importance of the line within the field of the art is just been plain disingenuous. As an artist our lines speaks volume in our creation. The respect for line in the world of the art should not be taken lightly by an artist or any creative person. It allows us clarity within our composition and structural logics within our analysis. Any creative endeavour begins and ends with line or the notion of its importance.
Within the art world line guides your thoughts and action. The characteristic of the line takes you to another level as it relates to reasoning and comprehension .Our lines can allow us to determine whether or something is hard or soft, straight or lean, stout or slim etc. The differentiation of position with an artistic composition is also the function of the line. If we should further delve within the artistic realm of the world of the art and critically analysed the 3cs in the Arts: concept, content and context then we will find the master line at work. There is no doubt this allow us to become more aware of aesthetic variance and creativity expose.
Concept deals with the notion behind a work been more important than the actual finished work. Therefore, when an artist presents a conceptual piece of work all planning and decisions are made beforehand and execution is perfunctory affair. During this planning and execution the every presence of line is evident working assiduously to accomplish the artist and the art goals.
Content in art refers to what is being depict in the work of art. This could appears in several forms however, we may place them in two categories- figurative or abstract (realistic or distorted)
Context deals with all things about artwork which might influence the artist and the artwork. For example it may include when the work was made, where it was made; and takes in both cultural and geographical placement. Furthermore, it also deals with why the work was made although this aspect can be debatable at times which is based on the viewers’ perception.
From the view point of the 3cs of art the unfaithful hands of line stood boldly as it guides our path to various intellectual horizons in understanding enigmatic thing call the “Art”. From centuries of years that lies within the blanket of the pass and ocean of the future to come the warrant officer will be there guiding the art. Let’s not forget the importance of the line in our creative every- day life.
By Kirkland Clarke