Visual Problems in Illusion of Space

Introduction:

"In two-dimensional art forms, such as drawings, paintings, and prints, the artist often wants to convey a feeling of space or depth. Here space is an illusion, for the images rendered on paper, canvas, or boards are essentially flat." —Design Basics, Chapter 10

Application:

The following exercises and project are designed to give the student both short-term and long-term experiences in creating the illusion of space. Four individual exercises require students to explore various devices which can be used to show depth: size, exaggerated size, overlapping, vertical location, aerial perspective, linear perspective, and multiple perspective. Students will also practice different ways of creating open and closed form. One project encourages students to compose various types of perspectives to create the illusion of deep space. Students render their illusion of space projects in a professional manner with media used in the field of design, including the computer. The final results are critiqued by their classmates and by their instructor.

Traditional Media

Using sketching or tracing paper, draw a composition in which there is an illusion of space created with the devices of size, exaggerated size, and overlapping. The shapes can either be naturalistic or abstract.

Using sketching paper and drawing pencils, draw a composition showing depth through the device of aerial or atmospheric perspective. It is suggested that a simple landscape design be rendered for this exercise.

Using sketching paper and drawing pencils, draw a composition showing depth with one-point, two-point, or multi-point perspective. It is suggested that a view of a city with several buildings be the subject of this exercise.

Design a composition in which the concept of multiple perspectives is emphasized.

Electronic Media

Using Adobe Illustrator create an illusion of space with the device of size, exaggerated size, and overlapping shapes. Make simple geometric shapes to show spatial depth in this piece.

Using a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator, design a composition in which there is an illusion of atmospheric perspective. Landscape forms or shapes should be designed so that there is stronger value contrast is in the foreground and minimal value difference is located at the horizon line.

Using a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator, create an illusion of depth in a composition through the application of one-point, two-point, or multi-point linear perspective. Use the tools found in Illustrator which are designed to create perspective lines.

Using a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator, design a composition utilizing the device of multiple perspective. Here several different perspectives of different images are included in a single composition, where they coexist in a unique form.

Project:

Goal: To create a design in which an illusion of space is created by employing at least three devices that can be applied to show depth.

Materials:

A. Traditional design media that will be employed in the execution of this project.

Illustration or bristol, board approximately 12"x15".

Black and white acrylic paint.

Two acrylic brushes, one chisel brush and one round brush.

Tracing paper with which to draw/design the composition and to trace the image down to the surface of the illustration board.

B. Electronic design software such as: Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop. Project can be designed and rendered either with traditional media or electronic (computer) software. It is also possible to mix traditional and electronic media. For example, a student could use traditional media to develop design ideas and electronic media to make the final rendering in subtle black and white gradations.

Guidelines:

An illusion of space should be created through the use of three different devices utilized to show depth. For example, size, overlapping, and linear perspective could be applied in the same composition to make the illusion of space of space on a two-dimensional surface.

The design can be created with naturalistic, abstract, or nonobjective shapes.

The overall composition with an illusion of space should either have a sense of closed or open form.

B. Electronic design software such as: Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop. Project can be designed and rendered either with traditional media or electronic (computer) software. It is also possible to mix traditional and electronic media. For example, a student could use traditional media to develop design ideas and electronic media to make the final rendering in subtle black and white gradations.

Guidelines:

An illusion of space should be created through the use of three different devices utilized to show depth. For example, size, overlapping, and linear perspective could be applied in the same composition to make the illusion of space of space on a two-dimensional surface.

The design can be created with naturalistic, abstract, or nonobjective shapes.

The overall composition with an illusion of space should either have a sense of closed or open form.

Chapter 11. Illusion of Motion

Assignment 1. Read the text of Chapter 11 and do the following:

1. List and discuss the different methods for creating the illusion of motion.

2. Identify and give examples of kinetic artwork.

3. Define and discuss the occurrence of kinesthetic empathy.

Assignment 2. Oral Quiz. Express your views working in groups (see Glossary below).

Western Civilization reads left to right. Oriental culture reads top to bottom. Explain why this is important in design?

Glossary

Anticipated movement The implication of movement on a static two-dimensional surface caused by the viewer’s past experience with a similar situation.

Blurred outline A visual device in which most details and the edges of a form are lost in the rapidity of the implied movement.

Kinesthetic empathy A mental process in which the viewer consciously or unconsciously recreates or feels an action or motion he or she only observes.

Kinetic Artworks that actually move or have moving parts.

Lines of force Lines that show the pathway of movement and add strong visual emphasis to a suggestion of motion.

Multiple image A visual device used to suggest the movement that occurs when a figure is shown in a sequence of slightly overlapping poses in which each successive position suggests movement from the prior position.

Op Art A static painting that gives the optical illusion of movement

Repeated figure A compositional device in which a recognizable figure appears within the same composition in different positions and situations so as to relate a narrative to the viewer.

Assignment 3. Do the tutorial quiz

1. There are three ways to suggest motion. Which of the following is not one?

a. Gesture Drawing

b. Blurred Outline

c. Multiple Images

d. Figure Repeated

2. The method of repeating a figure to suggest motion is all of the following except for:

a. Not used any more

b. Oldest Device

c. Widely used in Oriental and Western cultures

3. All of the following can imply motion except for:

a. Sketchy

b. Incomplete

c. Overlapping lines

d. Blurred edges

e. Crosshatching

4. True or False: Change and movement are basic characteristics of motion.

a. True

b. False

5. True or False: Everything moves, trees, the earth, us, but paintings are static and any movement is an illusion.

a. True

b. False

6. True or False: Movement is not an important aspect of art.

a. True

b. False

7. True or False: Movement is caused by memory and past experience.

a. True

b. False

8. True or False: An example that uses a repeated figure to suggest motion is the comic book.

a. True

b. False

9. True or False: Details and outlines are lost in fast movement, which is why the artist can use a blurred outline to suggest motion.

a. True

b. False

10. True or False: Streamline uses short stunted lines to express motion.

a. True

b. False

11. Artwork that moves, such as mobiles and mechanized sculptures, is called … .

12. … gives an optical illusion in a still image.

13. Using many curved lines to show pathways of movement is referred to as … .

14. The implication of movement on a static two-dimensional surface caused by the viewer's past experience with a similar situation is called … movement.

15. Name a visual device in which most details and the edges of a form are lost in the rapidity of the implied movement.

16. A compositional device in which a recognizable figure appears within the same composition in different positions and situations so as to relate a narrative to the viewer is called … .

Class project