notan
1
9.9
A way of arranging black and white shapes to make a strong simple design
- noun
- /noʊˈtɑn/
- Specialized
:
notan
- Artists often use notan to create visually striking contrasts between light and dark in their compositions.
Examples
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"Notan" is the term used by the Japanese to express "light-dark" as an element of design.
Blog text (32) -
Notan: Design in Light and Dark by Sharon Himes
Blog text (32) -
In her sketch, she applied the principles of notan to emphasize the interplay of shadows and highlights.
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Understanding notan is essential for designers who want to achieve balance in their artworks.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Notan comes from the Japanese word 濃淡, made of 濃 'dark' and 淡 'light', meaning 'shades' or 'tone'. So in art, notan is about arranging dark and light areas to create a strong, balanced design.