Basic elements of visual language

Dots, lines and shapes

We are going to...

Talk about the main elements of the images: the dot, the line and the shape.

Discover and practise an art style: The Pointillism.

Work with linesWork with shapes

1. The dot

The dot is the smallest graphic element that can be used.

There are two types of dots:◦Geometric dots◦Graphic dots

1. The dot

Geometric dot: in technical drawing, two lines cross themselves in a geometric dot.

Graphic dot: is the simplest element we can use to draw. It’s always small and nearly round.

1. The dot

Dots build images:◦Our brain groups the dots to see figures and

shapes.

1. The dot

We can use dots to draw objects, delimit shapes and give them volume and shadows. The dot can also give us important information about colours and textures.

Pointillism

At the end of the XIX century, some French artists began to paint using small coloured dots.

Those dots create an optic effect in our eyes that mixes the colours.

This style is called Pointillism, and some of the most important painters were Paul Signac (1863-1935) and Georges Seurat (1859-1891).

Pointillism

Georges Seurat Le cirque

Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte

Pointillism

Paul Signac Dimanche

Other artists

In the XXth century, other artists have used coloured dots in their paintings.

Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)

Activities

1. Look at the image and try to draw it in pointillist style. To do this: first, draw it in a schematic way using the soft lead pencil. After, use the black pen to draw the points. They must always have the same shape. Put a lot of dots in the darkest parts, and only a few in the brightest.

Activities

2. Create a painting in pointillist style. You can draw and paint what you want (a portrait, a landscape, a still life...). Use felt tip pens in an A4 cardboard.