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| Yin & Yang |
Nōtan (濃淡) is a Japanese word, meaning dark-light. There is no English language equivalent. It embodies an ancient Eastern concept, in which all things exist as inseparable and in perfect harmony.
The idea of Nōtan (濃淡) is embodied in the ancient Eastern symbol of Yin and Yang. It consists of two mirrored shapes revolving around a point of equilibrium. One white (positive area) and one black (negative area) are opposites, and both are equal. Together these shapes create a unified whole with inseparable parts (Botherwell, 1968).
An idea is similar to an ecosystem. If one component is removed, the whole system will be affected. Within black and white opposites, there is no conflict. The opposites' complement' each other. Neither seeks to negate or dominate over the other. They only relate together in perfect balance because they are equal. The white shape has a similar weight as the black and vice versa.
This concept of Nōtan (濃淡) evolved thousands of years ago in Chinese philosophy, dating from the third century BCE or earlier (Wikipedia, 2018). A balanced interaction between opposites differs from the Western idea of opposing or competing opposites. One competes with the other, for example, 'good' versus 'evil,' 'heaven' verses 'hell' or the 'Spy vs. Spy' comic.
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| Spy vs. Spay |
Nōtan (濃淡) was not familiar in Western culture until the late 19th century, when Japan opened its ports to trade. As a result, Japanese art, especially Japanese woodblock prints, gained popularity across Europe. Many artists, especially the French Impressionists, were influenced by these new images and ideas. American artist and educator Arthur Wesley Dow, studying in Paris, wrote a series of books about the concept, which worked its way into art education. Dow wrote the books specifically for art teachers, who westernized the idea into a tool now used for the design of shapes.
Dow uses the dark-and-light concept to design an interplay between lines and the contrasting values of shape to create balance and structure within the composition. It becomes an exercise that the artist practices in preparation for a larger painting. It encompasses the intellectual aspects of the design and composition, which can be easily changed or readjusted in changing the values or simplifying the shapes further.
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| Various light-dark designs from Dow's Book |
Artist's Example
by Christy Olsen
Step 1: Work from a subject with a single light source, so you have some light and dark tones.
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| Still Life with Single Lighting Source |
Step 2: Simplify all values into 3 distinct tones of light, gray & black. Squint to help you force the shapes into the closest of three values. I used a black and gray magic Tombow marker to help me simplify the values.
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| 'Notan' in 3 tones |
You can also simplify the design even further into two values, which is hugely limiting. However, it will expose any unbalanced aspect of your design. If both positive and negative spaces are of equal weight, they become visually equally important. If the positive and negative shapes are unequal, the dark shapes should be adjusted to balance the composition. You can also simplify the design by connecting darker shapes together, creating a more powerful statement, or changing the value of an object to make a rhythm of alternating values.
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| 'Notan' in 2 tones |
Here is the final painting. I changed some of the values from my original notan design. The color of the purple pot within the mid-tones was competing with the tangerines, so I put the pot into the dark zone, which helped accentuate the lighter tone and color intensity of the tangerines.
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| African Violets. oil on board. 9x12. |
Why is a study that helps us identify distinct values and shapes so important? Because the underlying shapes and values which define the composition are not always so obvious.
Underneath every great painting is a contrast of lights & darks without it, objects begin to blend together which makes it hard for us to determine one shape from another.
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| Finished painting in black & white to against 'Notan' study. |
The value defines shape & form. Painters use value to determine one object from another or one plane from another. Underneath every great painting is a contrast of lights & darks; without it, objects begin to blend together, making it hard for us to determine one shape from another. Contrasting lights and darks in paintings define the subject for viewers far away.
Bibliography
- Botherwell, D. (1968). Notan, The Dark-Light Principle of Design. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
- Wesley Dow, A. (1899). Composition Understanding, Line, Notan, and Color. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
- Wikipedia. (2018), wikipedia.org.
