From the course: The Elements of Composition for Illustrators

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Directing with lines

Directing with lines

From the course: The Elements of Composition for Illustrators

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Directing with lines

- Do you remember when your middle school math teacher explained that the shortest distance between two points is a line? We won't be focusing on math or geometry here. But the point is, we do pay attention to lines and images. Our eyes tend to seek out lines and edges to follow along and move from one point in the picture to another. Lines can be used to connect shapes while curved, straight, parallel and intersecting lines provide a framework and movement helping to hold various shapes of the composition together. In Howard Pyle's The Wonder Clock line is used to direct the eye to the subject matter, frame a subject to draw attention to it, connect two elements, and parallel a body of text to reinforce its importance and a balance of composition. Without the line and frame of texture this image would be imbalanced with too much of the weight on the right. Michael Sloan's blue illustrations featuring Professor Nimbus use line to direct the eye into the picture with perspective, to…

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