Virtual Tour: Line, Shape, and Color

As part of the Frye’s Gallery Guide Internship in partnership with Seattle University, Gallery Guide Interns had the opportunity to develop and facilitate a virtual tour of artworks from the Frye’s collection and exhibitions.

This virtual tour explores the theme of Line, Shape, and Color, featuring a selection of works from the Frye’s online collections database. The simple elements of line, shape, and color are the building blocks of artworks across all mediums. The ways that they are used can greatly affect how we experience art, conveying many different ideas and emotions.

Take a moment to look closely at this work. 

1. There are many different lines and shapes in this image. What types are you noticing? 

2. What colors do you see? What feelings do the colors make you think of? 

3. The title of this artwork is called Waves Floater. Do you see anything that reminds you of waves? If so, how might you describe it? 

Romero Britto is a Brazilian artist known for using bright colors and striking patterns in his artwork. He taught himself how to paint when he was very young and liked to explore themes of hope and happiness through colors and patterns. How do you feel when looking at Waves Floater? Do you feel hopeful and happy? Do you feel other emotions? 

This next artwork offers a very different combination of lines, shapes, and colors:

Spend some time looking closely at this artwork. 

1. What is the first thing you noticed about this work of art? Did any colors or shapes catch your eye? 

2. How do you think the artist made this?  

3. If you were one of the colors in this work of art, which color would you be? Why? 

4. Find a hidden emotion or idea in this work of art. What is it, and what clues helped you find it? 

Jeffry Mitchell is a Seattle-born and Washington-based artist. He is interested in art that is playful and references art that children might make. To create this image, the artist used graphite, ink, and watercolor on paper. Does this artwork remind you of something you might have made in elementary school? Does it remind you of something else? 

Related resource: Learn more about this artwork and artist through a Guided Artwork Discussion.

This next artwork is an ink drawing on paper. You will notice that it does not have any color besides black and white, but it has many lines and interesting shapes in it.

Take a moment to observe this work closely. 

1. Let’s look at the lines in this piece. I invite you to use your finger to trace some of the lines in the air. If you finish one line, trace another. What did you find? Did you find something that you didn’t notice before? 

2. What is going on in this image? Is there a story? What do you think might happen next? 

3. What might this image sound like? Try to place yourself in the image and consider what you would hear. 

4. If you were to add color to the artwork, what would it be?  

Jim Woodring, who lives and works on Vashon Island, Washington, is an artist whose work is inspired by his dreams, comic books, and cartoons. He likes to allow his imagination to run free and does not begin his drawings with the intention of telling a story or showing certain characters. He allows his artistic process to create whatever he ends up with. What do you think about this approach? Is the above image dream-like or cartoonish in your opinion? 

Related resource: This artwork was featured in the artist’s 2017 solo exhibition at the Frye, Jim Woodring: The Pig Went Down to the Harbor at Sunrise and Wept.

Thank you for exploring these artworks with me. I invite you to keep thinking about lines, shapes, and colors in your everyday life and how they impact the world around you.

Kristin Laidler
2021-22 Seattle University Gallery Guide Intern