Part two RECESSION when the lines are diagonal to the edge of the picture plane (sides of the paper) and diagonal lines can evoke action, physical and mental as in psychological disturbance, something has happened danger, excitement.
Regardless of the Art field, that you're in- Oil, acrylic, Pastel or Watercolor Painting, Digital Arts- the use of a
diagonal line is an art tool, a principal from the old (masters) guys, that can, and often does apply to you, regardless of the type of art you use.
I'm talking about graphic design, illustration, animation I'm talking about abstract, nonrepresentational painting, contemporary, and let us not forget representationalism art today.
When the Italian Renaissance was rolling out, if you look at a simple illustration from Titian's painting of Adam and Eve in the garden and then you look at the baroque painting by Ruben's, who copied the Titian painting when Rubens was asked to pick up the painting from Italy and hand delivered the painting to Spain (memo to self - do not send an artist to pick a masterpiece painting from one of the great artist in the past - unless you're allowing for extra time for the Currier/Artist to copy paint that painting. How would have thought that might've happened)
Back on topic, Titian’s Painting is in PLANE (parallel lines evoke calmness, stillness, peace, calm) but Ruben's changes the angle of the figures and makes them diagonal and the introduction to BAROQUE ART PERIOD has been birthed.
Maybe this isn't the one Painting that starts the baroque moment, but it is a classic example of the diagonal difference when you can see an artist physically change the composition for a purpose.
LOOKING AT THIS AS A DRAWING, and not as a painting, what do the diagonal lines do for the viewer - in Ruben's painting? -Possibly allowing the viewer to enter the scene, as if we’re part of the seen, which brings up another drawing principle called Radial Lines, but that’s another blog.
So how does being allowed to enter the Painting change this for you the viewer? in the case of Adam and Eve are we connecting with them and through their stumbling we also recognize we stumble. What was Ruben trying to tell us and how often does he do this technique in other paintings.
So, the question is, can you use lines that are diagonal to the painting - to evoke something in a psychological or physical action? Or more importantly, can you see them changing something in your art today?
As in our earlier blog PLANE and RECESSION has a place in every type of art today.
Taking art principles from the past old (master) guys and applying them in your art today. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.