Simple Line

unknown

Continuous Line artist unknown

Supermarket by Ben Schahn

These are all great examples of line by the famous artist Pablo Picasso

A Few Line Ideas

Good Vibrations

Let's call this is a Line Vibration.

The items you will need are:

Paper

Pencils, crayons, pens, or fine-tip markers

1. Have your kids place their paper in a horizontal position and draw a wavy line across the paper.  At the bottom of each "valley", Have them place a very small dot.

2. Then announce the rules of this game: they are to draw more wavy lines, but all lines mush run reasonably parallel until they reach the dots.  At each of these dots or "kissing points" the lines must briefly touch before continuing their journey.
3. When the upper part of the paper has been completed, the lower half of the paper is done in the same way, using the same "kissing points".

*Some of the most interesting creations appear when new "kissing points" are added as the picture develops.  As a rule, the closer the lines, the better the results.

Patterned Fun

Let's call this a simple scribble.

You will need:

Paper

Pencil and crayons

1. Begin by presenting your class a sample of a simple scribble.  Tell them that today we each will need to draw a simple scribble.  (Make sure to bring extra paper for those who have difficulty leaving their scribble nice and open.)

2. Once they have used their pencils to draw a large, open scribble, have them add a few additional outside lines so that the whole paper is divided into compartments.

3. Next, explain that today the crayons will be used for drawing lines and, furthermore, that these lines will be arranged to create patterns.  At this point take time out to demonstrate a few line patterns. 

4. When everyone has the idea of line patterns, explain that each of the compartments of the scribbled sheet are to be patterned in a different way.

5.  And finally, when they are done, have them out line the compartment boundaries with a black crayon.

I simply used a black sharpie marker for this example.  

Just imagine what it would look like in bright colorful crayon.

Patterned Fun 2

This could be an easy art lesson to follow the last one.  

Just have the kids draw a simple drawing.  Then when they are through tell them that they are to do as they did in the last lesson, use their crayons to make patterned lines.  This time they will be using these lines to color in their simple drawing.  They could draw anything.  The most important part is to have them draw big and simple so that they might be able to fit a pattern inside the object they have drawn.

These examples today came from a book by Gene Baer titled Paste, Pencils, Scissors, and Crayons.

Create Art Books

My sweet, sweet little brother Jacob knows how much I love art.  He also knows how much I love to get new ideas to teach art to kids.  Because he knows all of this about me, he loves to share things that he has done with his art at his elementary school.  (Yes, he is that much younger than me.)

One day he was even kind enough to send me home with his art book he had created.  Apparently at his school they have a full time art teacher who goes from room to room with an art cart.  One year she had each student make an art book.  That is what you see in the pictures above.  She collected the hard brown cardboard on the back of all the spiral bound notebooks she could find, then cut each in half.  One note book would make the front and back cover of his art book.  She let the kids decorate their covers.  Then they used 4 pieces of construction paper to make the pages.  (As you can see in the third picture.)  Each page was folded in half and the book closed acordian style.  Each art element she taught was in the book and labeled.  Some extra pieces of paper were glued on top of the original paper, to add new assignments.  What I liked about this idea is the same thing that Jacob liked about it, you could see all the things he had learned throughout the year.
         The reason I post this idea today is because I thought that since it is a new school year, you might like to start this at the beginning of the year.  Then, when your cute students go home at the end of the school year, they can show their cool big sisters, or just their moms all of the wonderful things they had learned.  They also can have a reference point to look back at and a great momento of that wonderful time they had as you taught them.

Define Line

As I was reading for help on how to describe Line further, I found a perfect definition in an old textbook that I used in college.  The book is titled Design Basics, fourth edition written by David A. Lauer and Stephen Pentak.
"Of all the elements in art, line is the most familiar to us.....we have been making lines constantly since we were young children.  Most of the cartoons we see daily in our newspapers are simple line drawings.
   Line is capable of infinite variety.  A curious feature of line is its power of suggestion.  What an expressive tool it can be for the artist!  A line is a minimum statement, made quickly with a minimum of effort, but seemingly able to convey all sorts of moods and feelings.....Think of all the adjectives we can apply to lines.  We often describe lines as being nervous, angry, happy, free, quiet, excited, calm, graceful, dancing, and having many other qualities.  The power of suggestion of this basic element is great."

1978 Susan Rothenberg

Untitled

I have used this piece as a good example of line before because look at how simple it is. The lines aren't even connected, yet you know exactly what the artist was showing you. That is called an implied line.  The artist is showing you what they want you to see with just the placement of a few simple lines. 

Sheep Drawing by Henry Moore

I also enjoy this piece by Henry Moore.  It is interesting to look at, and an excellent example of line.  He used line for his shading, another way to say that is that he used line to add value to his piece.  I also like this piece because you can almost feel how soft that sheep is just looking at it.  Just by using line the artist added texture to the piece.  It makes you want to almost reach you hand out to touch it.  

Now, can you see how line can be so interesting? 

 Let's take a look back to that definition I used earlier:

" Line is capable of infinite variety.  A curious feature of line is its power of suggestion.  What an expressive tool it can be for the artist!  A line is a minimum statement, made quickly with a minimum of effort, but seemingly able to convey all sorts of moods and feelings.....Think of all the adjectives we can apply to lines.  We often describe lines as being nervous, angry, happy, free, quiet, excited, calm, graceful, dancing, and having many other qualities.  The power of suggestion of this basic element is great."

LINE

This Month I would like to highlight the art element of line.  As you can see, line can do much.  As I first teach children about line, I ask them what a line looks like.  It is always interesting to see what they are thinking.  I then talk to them about how line doesn't have to be straight, or thin.  I have them practice drawing lines diagonally, then horizontally, then vertically, then swirly, then fat, then zig zags, then whatever.
Having the children then design a bookmark with a pattern of different lines would be fun.
Last year I heard of an Art Mom who used cooked spaghetti noodles to have the kids find what they could design with them.  I also heard of another Art Mom who just had the kids use their Elmer's glue to draw a simple line with no end (so it has to be a loop of some sort) and then she sprinkled salt on it like you would with glitter.  After it was dry she let the kids water color the salt line they had made.  It was beautiful.
For older children it would be fun for them to sit and draw a neighbor with one continuous line. (something like the second picture posted).
I also like the idea on the third picture that is posted.  With squiggly line make a sculpture of the human body. You could ask for a  volunteer to pose for the class, or this may be much easier, print up a picture of a person  and give each child a copy.  Have the kids try to sculpt the body they are looking at with squiggly lines.
When I was in high school, I loved to do crazy designs like the one in the 4th picture that is posted.  I loved to work for hours on something that looked kind of silly.  Just think what little kids could come up with.  They are still so full of imagination.  Use it to your advantage.

The art element of line could be used all year long.

It is my favorite I think.

Art in the Area

This morning I was able to take my daughter and son on a sweet little outing.  My kindergartender wanted to get out and see something.  Her idea was the zoo, but being the realistic mother I am I just took her to the nature walk just down by the river here.  I love that little walk.  I can't remember the exact title of the place, but it is an outdoor museum created by a woman's (her name was Cleo) personal collection.  Some of the items in the walk are just funny, some are religious, and some are just works of art.  I found myself enjoying watching my children learn and explore as they looked at the new dicoveries they found.  I also felt inspired to do something.  In looking at all the beauty that someone somewhere put in to all of that art, I was thankful they had.  I am so thankful because it changes lives.  Even if the change may have been a simple smile, or even a small thought.  I have to say, that sweet nature walk certainly improved my outlook on today.  I find that art can do that.  I can't wait to take more people to go discover that little place.   Thank you Cleo.