Visual ArtsTeacher Simone

Everything in the world has VOLUME

VOLUME is the amount of 3 DIMENSIONAL

SPACE occupied by an object.

Even though the world is 3 DIMENSIONAL, we represent it through FLAT images, like paintings, photographs, drawings, etc.

Artists use different methods to represent 3 DIMENSIONAL SPACE and VOLUME on a flat surface, like a paper or a canvas.

These “visual tricks” give the impression of space and volume.

Artists can use the following methods to create the illusion of volume and space: 1. PERSPECTIVE 2. SIZE 3. SUPERPOSITION 4. LIGHT AND SHADOW

▪ CHIAROSCURO

Conical perspective is a technique used by artists to represent 3 dimensional space.

There are 4 elements: The HORIZON LINE, PERPECTIVE LINES, the VANISHING POINT and the POINT OF VIEW.

The HORIZON LINE is an imaginary or real horizontal line, sometimes referred to as eye level, which divides your line of vision when you look straight ahead

2) PERSPECTIVE LINES are straight lines, drawn from the edges of objects, back into distant space, until they come together at the horizon.

3) The VANISHING POINT is the point where are the perspective lines meet and disappear.

4) The POINT OF VIEW is the position of the spectator with respect to the scene observed.

from above from below

Objects close to us appear big, and objects far from us appear small. This is a basic aspect of conical perspective.

Artists change the size of objects in order to create the effect of a three-dimensional scene.

The superposition is when one object covers part of another.

Our brain interpets that the object that is covered is FARTHER AWAY and the object that covers is CLOSER.

Artists use superposition in order to create the effect of 3-dimensional space.

Draw a simple landscape with CONICAL PERSPECTIVE.

Cut out the silhouettes (shapes) of objects.

Use VARIATIONS IN SIZE and SUPERPOSITION to create the effect of 3D space. For example:

Light, which allows us to see objects, has a secondary effect– shadow.

An illuminated object will have zones of both light and shadow, which augments a three-dimensional effect.

There are two types of shadow: Core shadow: is the shadow that an

object casts on itself. Cast shadow: is the shadow that an

object casts on the floor or the objects around it. Core shadow

Cast shadow

There are other areas of light and shadow.

Chiaroscuro: is a technique to recreate the progression of light to shadow (light to dark) of an object.

This helps give an effect of three dimensions.

Project: Black and white drawing. Step 1: In your sketchbook, cover

half with a piece of black card.

Step 2: Observe objects arranged on the table. Be sure to use some superposition.

Step 3: On the white side, draw the objects using CHIAROSCURO, adding the SHADOW with pencil.

Step 4: On the black side, draw the objects using CHAIROSCURO, adding the HIGHLIGHTS with light pastel.

Example: