Sol LeWitt made his wall drawings as instructions for other people to carry out. Here are 118 of them, each with the instruction as published by the museum or gallery that holds it, a photograph of an installation where one is published, and a p5.js program that follows the instruction.
A drafter has to decide what the instruction leaves open: how long a line is, which corner an arc starts from, how close a copy comes to the line above it. The program decides those things too, and the comment at the top of each program says what it decided and why. Press Draw it again to run the program in your browser; it draws differently every time, as a new drafter would. Copy code copies the program together with its library, ready to paste into the p5.js editor.
118 of 118
Wall drawing
Instruction
Installation
p5.js
#41969, Black pencil
A square divided horizontally and vertically into four equal parts, each with a different direction of lines.
A wall is divided into four horizontal parts. In the top row are four equal vertical divisions, each with lines in a different direction. In the second row, six double combinations; in the third row, four triple combinations; in the bottom row, all four combinations superimposed
See the photograph at the Art Institute of Chicago, which does not allow it to be shown on other sites.
#651971, red, yellow, blue, and black colored pencil
Lines not short, not straight, crossing and touching, drawn at random using four colors, uniformly dispersed with maximum density, covering the entire surface of the wall.
See the photograph at the Art Institute of Chicago, which does not allow it to be shown on other sites.
#85June 1971, Colored pencil
A wall is divided into four horizontal parts. In the top row are four equal divisions, each with lines in a different direction. In the second row, six double combinations; in the third row, four triple combinations; in the bottom row, all four combinations superimposed.
A 6-inch (15 cm) grid covering the wall. Within each square, not straight lines in either of four directions. Only one direction in each square but as many as desired, and at least one line in each square.
#91June 1971, Red, yellow and blue pencil, black pencil grid
A six-inch (15 cm) grid covering the wall. Within each square, not straight lines from side to side, using red, yellow and blue pencils. Each square contains at least one line of each color.
On a wall divided vertically into fifteen equal parts, vertical lines, not straight, using four colors in all one-, two-, three-, and four-part combinations.
A not straight line from the upper left corner to the lower right corner and from the upper right corner to the lower left corner, a not straight line from the midpoint of the left side to the midpoint of the right side, and a not straight line from the midpoint of the top to the midpoint of the bottom, all crossing in the center of the wall.
Copied lines. The first drafter draws a not straight vertical line as long as possible. The second drafter draws a line next to the first one, trying to copy it. The third drafter does the same, as do as many drafters as possible. Then the first drafter, followed by the others, copies the last line drawn until both ends of the wall are reached.
The first drafter draws a not straight vertical line as long as possible. The second drafter draws a line next to the first one, trying to copy it. The third drafter does the same, as do as many drafters as possible. Then the first drafter followed by the others, copies the last line drawn until both ends of the wall are reached.
Horizontal, not straight lines. Each signatory makes a horizontal non-straight line from left to right on the wall. The lines should not touch. There are as many lines as persons who draws, each draw one.
A 10-inch (25 cm) grid covering the wall. An increasing number of vertical not straight lines from the left side and horizontal not straight lines from bottom to top, adding one line per row of the grid. All lines are spaced evenly based on the number of lines, filling the last row of each direction.
A black outlined square with a red diagonal line from the lower left corner toward the upper right corner; and another red line from the lower right corner to the upper left.
A black outlined square with a red diagonal line centered on the axis between the upper left and lower right corners and another red diagonal line centered on the axis between the lower left and upper right corners.
A black outlined square with a red horizontal line centered on the axis between the midpoint of the left side and the midpoint of the right side and a red diagonal line centered on the axis between the lower left and upper right corners.
A line through the center of the wall toward the midpoint of the top side and a line from the midpoint of the left side to the midpoint of the right side
#215September 1973, Black crayon, black pencil, description
The location of an arc and not straight line. An arc whose center is located at the midpoint of the left side and whose radius is equal in length to the distance between the point halfway between the midpoint of the left side and the lower left corner and a point where two lines would cross if the first line were drawn from the midpoint of the bottom side to the upper right corner, the second line from the center of the wall and a point halfway between the midpoint of the right side and the lower right corner, drawn from the top part of the left side to the bottom part of the left side. The not straight line drawn from a point halfway between the center of the wall and the upper right corner to a point halfway between the center of the wall and the lower right corner
A square, each side of which is equal to a tenth of the total length of three lines, the first of which is drawn from a point halfway between the center of the wall and a point halfway between the center of the wall and the upper left corner and the midpoint of the left side to a point halfway between the center of the wall and a point halfway between the center of the wall and the midpoint of the bottom side; the second line is drawn from a point halfway between the start of the first line and a point halfway between the center of the wall and the upper right corner and the midpoint of the top side to the start of the first line; the third line is drawn from a point halfway between a point equidistant from the end of the first line, the start of the second line and a point halfway between a point halfway between the center of the wall and the midpoint of the right side and a point halfway between the center of the wall and the upper right corner and the midpoint of the top side to the point where the first line starts and the second line ends; the right side is located on the axis of, and equidistant from two points, the first of which is located at a point halfway between a point halfway between the center of the wall and the midpoint of the right side and the lower right corner to a point halfway between a point halfway between the midpoint of the top side and the upper right corner and the start of the third line.
The location of a straight, not straight and a broken line, a square, a triangle and a circle. (The specific locations are determined by the draftsman.)
A six-inch (15 cm) grid covers a black wall. There are ten white lines from the centre of the four sides and ten lines from every corner to arbitrary points on the grid (the length of the lines and their position is determined by the artist). White lines, grid in black pencil, black wall.
#260AJune 2000, White crayon, black pencil on blue wall
On blue walls, all two-part combinations of white arcs from corners and sides, and white straight, not straight, and broken lines within a 36-inch (90 cm) grid.
An increasing number of horizontal lines about 1 in. apart from bottom to top, vertical lines from top to bottom, diagonal right lines from left to right, diagonal left lines right to left.
Three-part drawing. First wall: On a black wall, a white straight line. Second wall: on a black wall, a white not straight line. Third wall: on a black wall, a white broken line. The lines are drawn from the midpoins of the left and right sides.
#289July 1976, White crayon lines and black pencil grid on black wall
A 6-inch (15 cm) grid covering each of the four black walls. White lines to points on the grids. Fourth wall: twenty-four lines from the center, twelve lines from the midpoint of each of the sides, twelve lines from each corner. (The length of the lines and their placement are determined by the drafter.)
A 12" (30cm) grid covering a black wall. Within each 12" (30cm) square, a vertical, horizontal, diagonal right or diagonal left line bisecting the square. All squares are filled. (The direction of the line in each square is determined by the draftsman.)
1st panel: Arcs from two adjacent corners and the midpoint of one adjacent side between. (left side) (ACG 20); 2nd panel: Circles and arcs from four corners and the midpoints of two opposite sides (left and right) (ACG 95); 3rd panel: Arcs from two adjacent corners and the midpoint of one adjacent side between (right side) (ACG 20).
1st wall: on a red wall, blue lines from each corner to points on the grid, yellow lines from the center to points on the grid; 2nd wall: on a yellow wall, blue lines from each corner to points on the grid, red lines from the midpoint of each side to points on the grid; 3rd wall: on a blue wall, red lines from the midpoint of each side to points on the grid, yellow lines from the center to points on the grid. The number of lines and their length are determined by the draftsman, but each wall has an equal number of lines.
A wall is divided vertically into three equal parts, one red, one yellow and one blue. 1st part: On the red part, a yellow straight, a yellow not straight, and a yellow broken line; and a blue straight, a blue not straight, and a blue broken line; 2nd part: On the yellow part, a blue straight, a blue not straight, and a blue broken line; and a red straight, a red not straight, and a red broken line; 3rd part: On the blue part, a red straight, a red not straight, and a red broken line; and a yellow broken line. The lines are horizontal and equally spaced. …
#310February 1978, white crayon lines, black pencil grid, black wall
A 12in. (30cm.) grid covering a black wall. Within each square, a vertical, horizontal, diagonal right or diagonal left, straight, not straight or broken line bisecting the square. All squares are filled. (The direction and kind of line in each square are determined by the draughtsman)
On a black wall, a white trapezoid within which are white vertical parallel lines and a white square within which are white horizontal parallel lines. The vertical lines within the trapezoid do not enter the square, and the horizontal lines within the square do not enter the trapezoid.
On a black wall, a white circle within which are white vertical parallel lines, and a white parallelogram within which are white horizontal parallel lines. The vertical lines within the circle do not enter the parallelogram, and the horizontal lines within the parallelogram do not enter the circle.
On four black walls, white vertical parallel lines, and in the center of the walls, eight geometric figures (including cross, X) within which are white horizontal parallel lines. The vertical lines do not enter the figures.
Two part drawing. The wall is divided vertically into two parts. Each part is divided horizontally and vertically into four equal parts. 1st part: Lines in four directions, one direction in each quarter. 2nd part: Lines in four directions, superimposed progressively.
Two part drawing. The wall is divided vertically into two parts. Each part is divided horizontally and vertically into four equal parts. 1st part: Lines in four directions, one direction in each quarter. 2nd part: Lines in four directions, superimposed progressively.
#340July 1980, Red, yellow, blue crayon on red, yellow and blue wall
Six-part drawing. The wall is divided horizontally and vertically into six equal parts. 1st part: On red, blue horizontal parallel lines, and in the center, a circle within which are yellow vertical parallel lines; 2nd part: On yellow, red horizontal parallel lines, and in the center, a square within which are blue vertical parallel lines; 3rd part: On blue, yellow horizontal parallel lines, and in the center, a triangle within which are red vertical parallel lines; 4th part: On red, yellow horizontal parallel lines, and in the center, a rectangle within which are blue vertical parallel lines; 5th part: On yellow, blue horizontal parallel lines, and in the center, a trapezoid within which are red vertical parallel lines; 6th part: On blue, red horizontal parallel lines, and in the center, a parallelogram within which are yellow vertical parallel lines. The horizontal lines do not enter the figures.
#343B1980, Four individual Wall Drawings On a black wall, a square, a circle, a triangle and a cross, within a square, the background is filled in solid white. White crayon, black wall
On a black wall, a square, a circle, a triangle and a cross, within a square, the background is filled in solid white.
#343C1980, Four individual Wall Drawings On a black wall, a square, a circle, a triangle and a cross, within a square, the background is filled in solid white. White crayon, black wall
On a black wall, a square, a circle, a triangle and a cross, within a square, the background is filled in solid white.
#343G1980, Four individual Wall Drawings On a black wall, a square, a circle, a triangle and a cross, within a square, the background is filled in solid white. White crayon, black wall
On a black wall, a square, a circle, a triangle and a cross, within a square, the background is filled in solid white.
An isometric triangle outlined by 3-inch (7.5 cm) bands. Within each plane are 3-inch (7.5 cm) wide black bands of parallel lines in one of three directions.
#357November 1981, White crayon, black pencil grid, black wall
A 12-inch (30 cm) grid covering the black wall. Within each 12-inch (30 cm) square, one arc from the midpoint of one side (The direction of the arcs and their placement are determined by the drafter.)
#3581981, White crayon and black pencil grid on black painted wall
A 12 (30 cm) Grid Covering the Wall. Within Each 12 (30 cm) Square, One Arc from the Corner. (The direction of the arcs and their placement are determined by the draftsman.)
Black arcs using the height or length of the wall as a radius, and black arcs using the midpoints of the wall as a radius. The arcs are filled in solid and drawn in India ink.
Stars with three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine points, drawn with a light tone India ink wash inside, an India ink wash outside, separated by a 6-inch (15 cm) white band.
Stars with Three-, Four-, Five-, Six-, Seven-, Eight- and Nine-Points, Drawn with a Light Tone India Ink Wash inside, an India Ink Wash Outside, Separated by a Six-inch (15cm) White Band
Two-part drawing. The two walls are each divided horizontally and vertically into four equal parts. First wall: 12-inch (30 cm) bands of lines in four directions, one direction in each part, drawn in black India ink. Second wall: Same, but with four colors drawn in India ink and color ink washes.
A 12" (30 cm) grid covering the black wall. Within each 12" (30 cm) square, a vertical, horizontal, diagonal right or diagonal left line bisecting the square. All squares are filled. (The direction of the line in each square is determined by the drafter)
#3941983, Black crayon, black pencil grid, white wall
A 12" (30 cm) grid covering the wall. Within each 12" (30 cm) square, a vertical, horizontal, diagonal right or diagonal left straight, not straight or broken line bisecting the square.
The room (or wall) is divided vertically into fifteen parts. All one-, two-, three-, and four-part combinations of four colors, using color ink washes.
A wall is divided into two equal parts by a line drawn from corner to corner. Left: alternating diagonal black and white 8-inch (20 cm) bands from the lower left. Right: alternating diagonal black and white 8-inch (20 cm) bands from the upper right.
The first drafter has a black marker and makes an irregular horizontal line near the top of the wall. Then the second drafter tries to copy it (without touching it) using a red marker. The third drafter does the same, using a yellow marker. The fourth drafter does the same using a blue marker. Then the second drafter followed by the third and fourth copies the last line drawn until the bottom of the wall is reached.
Color bands and black blob. The wall is divided vertically into six equal bands; red; yellow; blue; orange; purple; green. In the center is a black glossy blob.
Within a four-meter (160”) circle, draw 10,000 black straight lines and 10,000 black not straight lines. All lines are randomly spaced and equally distributed.
Every program uses a small shared library, lewitt.js, for LeWitt's vocabulary: the four directions, not straight lines, broken lines, and ink washes. The images above were rendered at 1,500 pixels with a fixed seed. Photographs load from the museums, galleries, and publications that published them; follow each credit to the source. Sol LeWitt's work is copyright the LeWitt Estate / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.