STRAIGHT LINES NOS. 1-12. November 18, 2015
Straight lines made with a brush and quink on Japanese paper 19.5″ x 27.5″
These are preliminary exercises in straight lines. Straight lines are not easy to make. Horizontal lines are more difficult than vertical lines. The continuous lines are made with a uniform motion with a single stroke, increasing pressure towards the end of each line to release the ink. Consequently, broken lines are more difficult to make. Strokes for vertical lines are all made from top to bottom. Because of the rainy weather today, there are some blots in these works.
STRAIGHT LINES Nos. 1-4 are continuous horizontal lines. They are made as evenly as possible. There are a number of ways of making straight lines: One is to make the line in relation to the edges of the paper. Once the first line is made, it is possible to make the succeeding lines in relation to the previous line. Another way of making straight lines is to make the line in relation to itself. This means copying the line as it is being made.
STRAIGHT LINES Nos. 5-8 are dashed or broken horizontal lines. They are made as uniformly as possible. This is very difficult to make so it is necessary to establish a strategy similar to ways of making straight lines described in Straight Lines No. 1-4 above. More exercises in making broken lines need to be made.
STRAIGHT LINES Nos. 9-10 are vertical lines. They are made as evenly as possible. Each line in Straight Lines No. 9 is made from the left to the right. Each line in Straight Lines No. 10 is made from the right to the left. All lines are made with a single stroke vertically from the top to the bottom. Vertical lines made from right to left (with the dominant right hand) is easier. More exercises need to be made, changing the direction of the strokes from the bottom towards the top.
STRAIGHT LINES No. 11 are alternating continuous and broken straight lines with each line drawn from left to right. This is perhaps a good exercise for quickly making broken lines because the straight lines give a chance for relaxation.
STRAIGHT LINES No. 12 are broken vertical lines with each line made from the right to the left. The spaces between the lines imply a horizontal line. More exercises need to be made with more attention to white space, thereby help making more uniform lines.
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