Unit 6 · FebruaryUpcoming

Notan — Light, Dark & Positive/Negative Space

Balance. Contrast. Harmony. Use Notan concepts to design and carve a linocut.

Notan designPositive/negative spaceLinocut carvingPrintmaking edition

Vocabulary

Notan

A Japanese design concept meaning 'light-dark harmony.' Notan explores the balance and interaction between positive (dark) and negative (light) space as equal design elements.

Thumbnail

A small, quick sketch used to explore multiple design ideas before committing to one. Thumbnails are fast and rough — the goal is quantity and exploration, not finish.

Linocut

A relief printmaking technique using linoleum as the carving surface. Areas carved away don't print; raised areas hold ink and transfer to paper.

Edition

A set of identical prints made from the same block. Each print in an edition is numbered (e.g. 3/10 means the 3rd print of an edition of 10).

Harmony

A pleasing arrangement of elements that feel like they belong together. In Notan, harmony comes from the balance between light and dark areas.

Silhouette

A solid dark shape against a light background (or vice versa). Silhouettes are the foundation of Notan design.

Registration

The alignment of a print to its paper. Good registration means the image lands exactly where intended on the page every time.

Projects — 4 total

Notan Thumbnails (6)

Create 6 thumbnail sketches exploring Notan light-dark balance with different subjects.

Notan Versions 1, 2 & 3

Develop your strongest thumbnail into 3 refined Notan compositions at increasing scale.

Notan Block (Carved)

Transfer your final Notan design to a linoleum block and carve it.

Notan Edition (3 Prints)

Print a signed edition of 3 Notan prints on quality paper.

Unit 5: Storytelling Through Images (Narrative Unit)Unit 7: High Contrast Portraits (Imaging → Printmaking)