Customer Reviews

Notan: The Dark-Light Principle of Design (Dover Art Instruction)

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The Book Notan is a stimulating journey in to the World of design.Every aspiring designer should own this book. The excercises are sure to help in the devolopment of an understanding of the importance of "negative" space and it's relationship with good design. I would recommend this book to ages 12 and up, for those with an eye for art, or who would like to devolop their eye. I find myself returning to this book on a regular basis to refresh my Vision and kick start my creativity. An Exceptional Book!!

This book teaches a basic principle that all artists/teachers should use when thinking/teaching composition whether you are working two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally. Notan is a simple design principle that focuses on positive and negative space. It uses six different exercises that could be used or adapted at any age level and should be a must for the art curriculum. It also offers great historical references. It is one of the best art books you could buy for under $10.

After reading this book and doing some of the suggested exercises, I became more sensitive to negative space and related design principles and better able to apply them to my art.

I am a design educator. Although I've developed a number of very effective design problems for my advanced students of visual design, I find I'm always looking for new sources of inspiration for my foundations students. The issue I generally confront is that texts tend to fall on one or the other end of a continuum, ranging between incredibly basic to either esoteric or obtuse. Notan: The Dark-Light Principle of Design, I am happy to say, tends to fall at the midpoint of the pendulum swing, providing examples of exercises that are appropriate for introductory learners. With some modification, the principles in this text are applicable to segments of drawing, 2D design, and graphic design curricula, and should make an excellent supplement to a core program of established design exercises.

from its opening statements about how the "east" and the "west" view positive and negative spaces, it proceeds to show the beauty and value of seeing more than what is presented before you. It is a valuable lesson book in learning to "see" and appreciating the visual balance and harmony that comes with looking at "both sides" of something, something we so often forget to do. It is profound in a very simplistic way. Well worth having on your book shelf whether you are an artist or not. This goes way beyond art!

An excellent book to add to your reference library in the studio. This book has been around a long time & is loaded with solid, solid, information on Design.

Gives a very good idea of the relationships of dark & light in design.
Took a class from Dorr many years ago. Glad to see her book back in print.
I bought this book for my Grand Daughter.

If you design wallpaper or stove grills or rugs or dinnerware patterns, this book might help you. The writer never bridges the gap between Notan and art. And I don't care what anyone says, there is absolutely nothing interesting about a misshapen abstract version of a pair of scissors. And primative indian art is fine for what it is but attempts to glamorize it to be something it is not is totally unnecessary. This kind of illusion in design was interesting for about 5 minutes back in the 60's and 70's. If there is any value in this book, it's really well hidden. If you want a good book for ideas on composition, I recommend you keep looking.

I bought this book on the recommendation of an artist I admire. Unless I am really missing something, this book is a major snooze. I got absolutely nothing out of it. It was a big disappointment.