Latest posts by michael wilson (see all)
- JORDAN RIVER - February 5, 2019
- Inspired Art - August 2, 2018
- Waiting for Inspiration - July 31, 2018
- The Bridge between Painting and Photography - July 31, 2018
Perhaps more than any other painting genre, abstract art employs lines to border forms. Line value in abstract art becomes practically an art in itself. Line value in this sense refers to the relative strength and thickness of the painted line. It often also refers to the shade or darkness of the line.
Line value in Abstract art is used of course to enhance a particular form and to draw attention to a certain feature. It is used selectively and rarely is every form bordered with a dark line which would appear repetitive. Van Gogh would often employ lines to border forms and figures in his paintings so that they would stand out from the background or from other forms. Van Gogh was not one to carefully blend his forms from dark to light. The use of the heavy line served to distinguish his forms. In one painting of a friend sitting in a chair, he used a heavy red line completely around the figure which literally popped out from the background. It appears he painted this dark, red line while the painting was still wet so that in places the red line mixed with the image of the figure.
Kandinsky appears to paint his lines after the forms have been placed, set and dried. This allowed him to paint very distinct, sharp delineation. Line value in abstract art took on a whole new meaning as Kandinsky began to explore true abstract art. His lines are remarkably painted with highly skilled brushwork. I expect he used very refined round sable brushes for this kind of delicate work, especially the circles that he drew so often.