Nōtan (濃淡) is a Japanese design concept involving the play and placement of light and dark elements as they are placed next to the other in the composition of art. This use of light and dark translates shape and form into flat shapes on a two-dimensional surface. Nōtan is traditionally presented in paint, ink, or cut paper, but it is relevant to a host of modern-day image-making techniques, such as lithography in printmaking, and rotoscoping in animation. We can also look at it in terms of positive and negative space. These were created by junior high students. The biggest challenge is keeping track of all the small pieces and not losing them! They create a large heart shape from coloured paper. Then they cut out shapes from the edges and flip them over and glue them in a mirror image outside of the heart shape. I found the idea for the project HERE on the Apex Elementary Art blog. Some finished notans:
