Notan: Design in Light and Dark - Sharon Himes

Grande Odalisque, Ingres, 1814, The Louvre, Paris, France

"What is dark is not light and what is light is not dark. This is the basis of all design and an important guiding principle of art. It seems so simple but an artist can spend a lifetime exploring the possibilities of light and dark.

"Notan" is the term used by the Japanese to express "light-dark" as an element of design. In the west we use separate terms such as positive space and negative space, dividing the idea of light-dark into separate components. On paper it is easy to see that dark shapes cannot exist without a surrounding area of white. White shapes cannot exist without dark to define it. The two elements are really one. This is an eastern concept of yin-yang that each is what the other is not...

...All art is based on light and dark even when color is involved. In a low-light situation we can only see the values, or light and dark of a painting. Hang a painting in a dim room and only the strongest contrasts of light and dark can be identified. These abstract forms of light and dark tell us a lot about the art, even when we are not immediately aware of a specific subject or scene. It is the design of the art that we see when color, texture and representation are set aside.

Simple elements of light and dark can be expressive. When limited to the basic characteristics of black and white on a two dimensional plane, design still can express tension, movement and balance. Edges between light and dark catch our attention and we unconsciously follow them with our eyes. A gently curving edge is followed slowly by our eyes and a more sharply curved edge is passed over quickly, giving a subconscious sense of movement. Convoluted edges can suggest texture or just be confusing.

The original painting (above) is relatively large, and such a small computer image can not begin to show the probable depth of texture or intensity of color. It is always best to see an original painting but viewing a representation on a computer has its values.

Light spaces within an area of dark or dark spots in a light shape change the balance. Like dark windows on a light house or light bubbles in a dark liquid, the main shape is alleviated by the disruption.

A design shows balance or imbalance (tension) through the distribution of light and dark space. Rarely is the artist likely to divide the space perfectly evenly as that would be static and uninteresting. Dividing the space into areas of light and dark that are uneven suggests interaction and movement..."

Link Full Text, Sharon Himes, artcafe.net