Intro. To Fine Arts - Art Space Space in Art

Creating space (depth) in an artwork: Artists have always been interested in creating implied space on a 2 dimensional picture plane. This is the surface on which they work such as paper or canvas. They use special techniques to help them create the illusion of three dimensional space, or depth.

Overlapping: Overlapping objects is a simple way to suggest depth. An object that is in front covers objects that are in back.

High and low placement of objects also helps create the illusion of depth. Objects that are placed lower on the page seem closer than objects that are further up on the paper, closer to the horizon line. Look at the ground to see how far away an object is.

Size of objects: Things that are closer to you should be made larger; things that are further away on the picture plane should be made smaller.

Horizon line – invisible line where the sky meets the ground. Placing objects in the foreground, middle ground and background helps to create space.

During the Renaissance, artists became very interested in making two-dimensional artworks look three-dimensional. They used mathematics and close observation to invent “linear perspective” – a technique that helps artist make things look deep. Artwork prior to the Renaissance, had no or little depth in the picture plane.

Linear Perspective allows artists to imitate human vision, which sees parallel lines leading away as eventually coming together. In one point perspective, the artist establishes a horizon line and creates one vanishing point on it. The vanishing point is the point at which parallel lines appear to come together.

In one point perspective the sizes of objects diminish as they get farther away from the viewer, and parallel lines get closer together as they recede in space, until they finally converge (come together) at a vanishing point placed on an imaginary line (horizon line) that is exactly at the height of the observer’s eyes (eye level). Everything parallel to the side wall of these buildings will recede to the same vanishing point. All structures, lines and windows facing the viewer are vertical and horizontal.

In Two-point perspective, the artist establishes two vanishing points and two sets of diagonal lines. This allows even more realistic depth. In two point perspective, the object is “kitty corner” to the viewer.

Two point perspective is useful to show an angle rather than face-on.

Negative/Positive Space Sculptors look carefully at the spaces within and around their sculptures. Some work with open forms, creating positive and negative space that interact with each other in interesting ways. Negative and positive space also refers to the space around an object being drawn.

One point perspective Lines are horizontal, vertical and parallel to each other. Other lines go back to vanishing point.

2 point perspective Lines are vertical or go back to vanishing points

1 point perspective – lines are parallel – horizontally and vertically