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#219915 01/17/2015 5:50 PM
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stranger
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Hi, I am tracking down a word that I once discovered and have since lost... it is used to describe the use of white outlines in art. Hopefully I can find it again here among the intelligentsia. Appreciated.

river11 #219921 01/18/2015 1:07 AM
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Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
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Welcome and stick around. Someone will probably know.


----please, draw me a sheep----
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stranger
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Thank you and fingers crossed... I know it's an obscure art term, but I'm hopeful.

river11 #219926 01/18/2015 5:20 PM
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I know we have one artist who comes here periodically,
maybe she will have the term.


----please, draw me a sheep----
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old hand
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I asked my daughter (an artist), and she had no idea, but there are lots of artists in these part, so I'll ask around.

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Carpal Tunnel
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I know BranShea is an artist, not seen here for a while,
but if she sees this she may know.


----please, draw me a sheep----
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stranger
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Thanks so much for continuing the investigation.

river11 #219980 01/22/2015 8:06 PM
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old hand
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Here's a response from an artist that may be of help to you:

The use of white outlines in art : I wish your friend could give a little more info, as to period and type of art, as white outlines mean that the artist had to use a white drawing tool on a dark background, and those instances are almost non-existent. But there a 2 instances in which lines of white can be discerned:
" pentimento", a painting beneath a painting, resulting in white ares left unpainted in the primary level painting coming through the overlying painting
"synopie", an undersketch for a fresco in which the predominant red-ochre color of the drawing is highlighted in white.

Neither of the above represents what I would call a true outline, however. If this mystery word comes to light, let me know, as I have degrees in art history as well as studio art, and frankly have never heard of a word for white outlines.


Edit: And then she added:

The word "chiaroscura" is a general art term meaning from light to dark, and drawings about which that term can be employed often employ white lines and/or highlights .

Last edited by Tromboniator; 01/22/2015 9:21 PM.

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