In Perspective

How Artists Create Shapes and Forms in Space

The Illusion of Form

Charles Sheeler uses shading and shadow to give the illusion of 3 dimensional form on the flat surface of the canvas just as we did in our last two still life assignments.

The Illusion of Depth

What is depth?Depth is the quality of

being deep. In art it is the illusion of

space in a flat artwork.Perspective is a graphic

system that creates the illusion of depth. Giovanni Panini, Interior of St. Peter’s

Rome, 1746

Window to the World

The idea that a painting should be like a window to the real world has dominated traditional western art since the early renaissance.

Ralph Goings, Diner with Red Door, 1979

Overlapping

• When one object covers part of a second object the first seems to be closer to the viewer.

Placement

• Objects placed low on the picture plane seem to be closer to the viewer than objects placed near eye level.

• The most distant shapes seem to be right at eye level.

Size

• Large objects appear to be closer to the view than small objects.

Detail

• Objects with clear sharp edges and visible details seem to be closer than objects that are hazy.

Color

• Bright/deep colored objects seem closer to you and objects with dull faded colors seem farther away.

Converging Lines

• As parallel lines move away from you, they seem to move closer together toward the horizon line.

Create Space

• Perspective• Overlapping• Placement• Size• Detail• Color• Converging lines

Required: write the words above with definitions and an example sketch. If you missed the definitions during this discussion they can be found on pages 114-115 of the green Art Talk textbook.