In general, drawing is an experience, which we directly gain based on nature or have in regard to our subjectivity.
The practice of drawing is carried out in black and white or monochrome. It is done to serve two main purposes:
A) Sketches drawing: This category of artistic drawing relies on rapidly achieved general concepts of the subject’s character while the details are not taken into consideration. The practice is so intuitive and comfortable. This type of drawing is regarded as having sublime technical and artistic values.
B) Characterization in Drawing: The work created in this category of drawing will be perfected. Furthermore, the characterization of the subject and representation of its identity are detailed. On the other hand, the technical and aesthetic aspects are observed within its framework as well as the generalities and details.
About Line
The first element we get to know in drawing and painting is line, which is generally divided in two types:
A) The Intuitive line: This is frequently used in painting and in terms of structure, in a brush stroke, they can be light and dark or thin and thick.
B) The Non-intuitive line: Although this line is also applied in painting, it is mostly known as the engineering line or the even line. In terms of structure, it has the same thickness, tone and value throughout. This line does not become thick or thin and it is totally even. Therefore, singularly used, it never creates a sense of dimension.
On Chiaroscuro
Speaking of chiaroscuro, one can simply say that shadows are employed to create a depth of field, lights and dimension in painting. In order to have a better grasp of them, prepare your mind to use three values of white, gray and black and to understand it better have the white and black in your mind and work on developing the gray values in your mind with half closed eyes on different objects.
In terms of technical practice, shadows are divided in two categories:
A) Blurred shadows: These are shadows which we can apply to create very soft grounds from darkness to light. For this, we can use different textures from papers and cardboards to various other textures or through different but even brush strokes.
B) Hatched Shadows: Such shadows are important in terms of their artistic status. Here, the method of creating shadows, depth of field and darkness is adopted by employing dense close lines and as the shadows move toward light, the lines are detached to reach to a perfect light. For achieving hatched shadows, you may use both the intuitive lines and the even lines or a combination of the two and create a variety of beautiful technical works.
Line in the Iranian Traditional Painting
The characteristics of line in the Iranian traditional painting and other traditional Oriental arts during Safavid era (1501-1736) includes “micro painting” and “delicate painting”. In this vein, after the first design, the colored grounds were created detachedly like color puzzles. In the second stage, by employing color and very delicate brushes, delicate lines were created as a type of delineation. In the last stage, the artists completed their works through shading. In terms of size, these works were so small as they were created under the magnifying glass.
The other key point is that the arts of illumination and ornamental designs were being carried out similarly in very small sizes. Due to their micro sizes, the lines, which were used in these works, were almost both very delicate and very short. The artists of that time accomplished their tasks while they were fixing their wrists on the page, which enabled them to control the micro designs. Therefore, they lacked free-moving hands to draw long lines.
It should be added that the even lines in geometric forms and tables on the margins of the pages were drawn by a ruler which was and is necessary for drawing meticulous geometric, beautiful lines.
Line in the Iranian Contemporary Painting
Originally, line in the Iranian contemporary painting is related to the Oriental, particularly Iranian arts. However, it has become more diverse and different from its predecessors. It has gone beyond the traditional formats and instead of delineation, we call the drawing of this line as Qalamnavazeh (a special method in Iranian contemporary painting).
In terms of physical movements, drawing this type of line needs a hand, which is put on a slippery, unstable and light page and able to simultaneously draw intuitive, delicate lines in both short and long forms at a moment.
In terms of using instruments, pens with thin and dedicate pen-nibs are generally preferred. For shading between the lines, we may use softer and thicker pens as well. Nevertheless, whatever is mostly introduced as Qalamnavazeh is created out of color by delicate thin brushes.
Lines from the View of Aesthetic Structure
Despite all their various movements, all lines have a unity. They are intuitively derived from the subject matter. Here, during the practice, the brush is moved totally under the influence of the content, subject-matter as beautiful works are created based on technical rules and experiments.
Independently, the Qalamnavazeh-s enjoy singular excellence and beauty. Even without color, they can turn into eminent works of art. However, in the Iranian contemporary painting, the Qalamnavazeh-s are frequently blended with shadows as colored, light or dark lines and are dissolved in them. So, they are not simply used for delineation.
The Characteristics of Lines in Terms of Psychology
Some types of lines are conclusive and assertive, delicate and tender as well as disobedient. They move like a skilled, amorous dancer who without any preconception begins to dance improvisationally.
As a matter of fact, due to having aesthetical inner characteristics, such lines can have a positive influence on human mental health.
