Sep 23, 2018 · Notan is a Japanese term that literally means “light-dark harmony”. Artists use “notan studies” to explore different arrangements of light and dark elements in a painting without having the …

Notan Nōtan (濃淡) is a design aesthetic referring to the use of light and shade while also implying a balance or harmony in their respective contrast.

Notan is the underlying abstract framework of dark and light values, upon which you build the value structure of a painting. The arrangement of darks, lights, and grays, regardless of the colors used, …

Notan is a Japanese term that literally means “dark-light.” In the visual arts, notan is used to describe the relationship between dark and light values in a composition.

Oct 13, 2015 · Notan is a Japanese word that means “light-dark balance.” A notan uses an extremely limited range of values: in its most strict form, just black and white; in its more liberal form, black, …

Jul 13, 2025 · Notan is a Japanese concept in art that focuses on the interaction and harmony between light and dark shapes within a composition. The word "Notan" literally translates to "light-dark" or …

Jun 21, 2022 · Notan design refers to the fundamental value structure of your painting and was referenced by Arthur Wesley Dow in his book titled Composition: Understanding Line, Notan, and …

Jun 29, 2025 · To put the concept of notan into practice, I recommend doing a preliminary sketch using black ink or gouache on smooth board or watercolor paper, interpreting everything in terms of light …

Notan is an ancient Japanese design concept which involves the arrangement of light and dark elements in a visual composition. It was used extensively in traditional Japanese art forms such as Ukiyo-e …

What is a Notan Value Study? Notan is a Japanese term that refers to the balance of light and dark within a composition. Traditionally, Notan studies involve using a limited range of values—typically …