JANUARY | A Nod to Line

"...the drawn line, more than the outline of shapes, can express rhythm, movement, light, space, and much more, as the artist grows an understanding of its handling and potential."

From Martin Salisbury’s new book, Drawing for Illustration , which I highly recommend

This year, I’m paying homage to everything I love about visual art.

Now that I have a bit of space from publishing deadlines, I’m falling back in love with art and the reasons I pursued it as a career. Each month I’m pick an element, theme, or asset of visual art to explore. Academically, you can study the elements of art and principles of design, and though mine will pull from those lists, it’s not my goal to cover all of them or even consult them. This is a purely indulgent adventure - choosing what I love, celebrating it, and finding work that accentuates it.

A NOD TO LINE

I just love a good line drawing.

I recently listened to Doug Salati's Stimola Live event about Hot Dog (which should be on your list if you love line work or dogs or both yes please!) and he was talking about his decision to leave some of the characters in his book as outlines. He mentions (at the 50 min mark) Maurice Sendak’s books with Ruth Krause (I share one below) “They were just beautiful ink line drawings on the page with text, and that’s enough for me.” That sentiment about loving line and having it be totally fulfilling just resonated so deeply.

There is an implied line which can be made using color or shape or even eye contact between characters but I'm celebrating the visible line - the slow and steady pull of the hand - the quick and furtive stroke of a paintbrush. Mild and calm, energetic and wild - and everything in between.

I’ve been sinking my teeth (and hand) into line drawings lately - here are a couple from my sketchbook. A feast from Thanksgiving, and also a page of feelings all wrapped up into a line drawing.

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One of the coolest parts about these posts, will for me, be seeking out and sharing inspiring work - a way for me to expand my visual library and seek out artists unbeknownst to me before. Here are some from contemporary artists that I love - and some historical pieces too.

LINE INSPIRATIONS

“Line art is one of the oldest art types out there, with first line art cave drawings dating 73,000 years backs. Needless to say, line art has drastically evolved since. Some of the world’s most prominent artists experimented with line art such as Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, or in more recent years Keith Haring.”
- Milica Jovic from Artacacia

©RomanMuradov

©RomanMuradov

ROMAN MURADOV - talk about a master at line work. And humor.

"I tend to draw everything 3-4 times in a row, and then spend hours delibrating between the versions, occasionally editing them together to get the perfect crappiness of line".

RDNL 2017/QUENTIN BLAKE via BBC

©QUENTIN BLAKE via Christie’s

SIR QUENTIN BLAKE

This can’t be an illustration blog post about line without the work of Quentin Blake. His hand is immediately recognizable and his drawings have wild amounts of energy and wit.
Watch him draw a Hornswoggler!

Mary Cassatt, Woman Bathing, 1890-1891

MARY CASSATT

Usually known for her paintings, I find her prints quite lovely - this one above is from a series of ten prints she did (in color) but this line work can definitely stand on its own (in my humble opinion!) Degas didn’t think so - or - rather he didn’t think a woman could pull this off. Upon viewing these, he said, "I do not admit that a woman can draw like that."

Open House for Butterflies, Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak
Harper & Row, 1960

Open House for Butterflies, Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak, Harper & Row, 1960

MAURICE SENDAK

My friend Meera first introduced me to the books Sendak did with Ruth Krause and I fell in love with the line work - so simple, yet alive and believable.
Planning to see this show this month for my birthday!

©EdwardGorey

EDWARD GOREY

I don’t know if I can technically call this a line drawing? Who makes the rules?! All I know is that this is a drawing and it’s made of like a thousand lines so I think it qualifies!
Have you visited the Edward Gorey House?!

© Ben Shahn, Boy on Tricycle via MOMA

© Ben Shahn, Untitled Drawing Series, (1948)

BEN SHAHN

There’s a reason Ben Shahn’s work is so influential. I could seriously look at his drawings all day, frame them, wallpaper my studio…
The second, solemn image is from an Untitled Series created for Harpers regarding the Hickman trial in Chicago.

©SanaeSugimoto

©SanaeSugimoto

SANAE SUGIMOTO

I was introduced to her work from my friend Ginnie and every time I see it, it stops me in my tracks. While yeah it’s probably more than a line drawing, no one can stop me from putting it on the list! The way she handles delicate line work with large tonal red and black shapes. *chefs kiss*

AND one more for good measure!

Santo Sospir, with it’s "tattoos" by jean cocteau, Filippo Bamberghi via Town & Country

Weisweiller designed the interior with her friend and decorator, Madeleine Castaing, Marina Melia via Town & Country

The line work on the walls of Santo Sospir Villa from artist Jean Cocteau. (The story of how the villa came to be is also quite interesting!)

If you want a little more…
I created a video for The Dessert Club Patreon sharing ways in which I work with line - flowing, graphic, and energetic. I also did a timelapse of the banner illustration!

Was this fun? I think this was fun - looking at so many different works and giving a good nod to line.
In the coming months I can’t wait to discover more, share more, and explore the wonderful ways in which art moves us. Do you have any favorite line drawings, or artists who have a particular good use of line in their work? Share in the comments if so!

Happy New Year to you all - may it begin with the freshness of mint in a good chocolate cake.
Thanks for being here - today and every month!
xo,
Becca