EPVA 1º ESO Space and volume

SPACE AND VOLUME

1. THE CONCEPT OF SPACEWhen we look around a room, we can see that something is wide or narrow, tall or short, near or far. To visually measure space and volume, we need to look:

Vertically, from top to bottom, to compare height. Horizontally, from side to side, to compare width. Transversally, from front to back, to compare depth.

We need to know these three basic dimensions (height, width, and depth) to accurately interpret the space around us and to see shapes three-dimensionally.

To create three-dimensional forms on a plane, we have to learn how to artistically represent the third dimension: depth.Artists use many ways to create the illusion of depth:

1. Change the object size: place the largest objects in the bottom half of the paper (nearness) / the smallest ones in the top half (distance)

2. Modifying the distance between objects (separation). Separate objects (vertically, horizontally). We can create a sense of even more space and depth if we separate them diagonally.

3. Contact between objects. If shapes on a plane are in contact or near to each other, it means they are at the same visual distance. If they are next to each other, we can compare their sizes.

4. Make objects transparent (transparency). 5. Overlapping. The effect of one object slightly hidden behind another.6. Intersecting: two shapes cut through each other (entirely or partially).7. Shapes passing through each other: when one flat shape goes through another flat shape, it looks like one is entering

or leaving the other.8. Contrasting tones/colours: we perceive warm colour objects nearest than cold ones. Also, saturated colour objects

seem nearest than colours with a low saturation.9. Using perspective.

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9. The school of Athens, Raphael (1509)

EPVA 1º ESO Space and volume

2. THE CONCEPT OF VOLUME

The objects have volume and occupy space. Some objects have inside and outside space, like a pencil sharpener. Others are solid, like a rubber.To create a sense of volume on a two-dimensional support such as drawing paper we need to understand how light falls onto objects. The technique used is named Chiaroscuro.

Any objects or subjects have different areas of illumination: Light areas usually show a high light spot or are where light hits harder or more perpendicular to the object. The object drops, while blocking the light direction, a cast shadow that sometimes shows a little lighter area

around it called halo. The halo has a higher value than the rest of the background because of the light direction. The cast shadow is usually the darkest area, or the lowest value, in the chiaroscuro drawings.

A Grisaille consists on giving a medium value (50% grey) to the drawing before the line drawing has been done. After the grisaille the artist would erase the medium grey where he or she wants the light areas and get the shadow areas darker. With that, the drawing will have a medium value, a general dark one and a general light area.

When that is achieved, it is only about blending values and giving the last detail touches such as the reflected light area on the form shadow or the high light on the light area, also a halo around the cast shadow if the spotlight is hard. Not all the artist need to follow that process, it can be done in a different way, but this is one of the safest and easiest.

Autorretrato, RembrandtLa cena en Emaús, Caravaggio

EPVA 1º ESO Space and volume

According to the direction of the light, the illumination can be: front, side, overhead and backlight.

Front light Side light Overhead light backlight

3. CREATING VOLUME FROM A PLANEThere are several ways to create volume from a flat surface. One method is to fold an object enough times until it becomes a closed object that has volume.Geometrical figures that have volume are made up of regular, flat geometric shapes which fold onto each other.

sphere cylinder cone Rectangular prism

Triangular prism

Regular square

pyramid

Regular hexagonal pyramid

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