Thursday, May 5, 2011

Illusion of Motion by Multiple Image

when we see a figure in an overlapping sequence of poses, the artist is suggesting motion through multiple images.

Illusion of Motion by Blurred Outline

the illusion of motion can be caused by a blurred outline because it is seen every day. When an object is moving quickly we do not get a clear visual image of them.


Illusion of Motion by Repeated Figure

You can get the illusion of motion by repeating figures, a comic strip is a good example.


Anticipated Motion

Anticipated motion is the implication of motion on a static two-dimensional surface caused by the viewer's past experience with a similar situation.


Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Spatial Puzzles (Equivocal Space)

Transparency does not provide a clear spatial pattern to the viewer. When an artist uses this ambiguity to make the viewer unaware of which plane is on top and which is behind it is called equivocal space.


Multiple Perspective

Multiple Perspective is when you look at a figure or object from more than one vantage point.




Amplified Perspective

Amplified perspective is a dynamic and dramatic illusionistic effect created when an object is pointed directly at the viewer.






This is the example the book gives.

Illusion of Space by Linear Perspective

The illusion of space can be created by using linear perspective. In linear perspective, as parallel lines recede, they appear to converge and to meet on an imaginary line called the horizon, or eye level.



Illusion of Space by Aerial Perspective

Illusion of space can be achieved through an aerial perspective. This is the use of color or value to show depth.

Illusion of Space by Vertical Location

Illusion of Space by Vertical Location is when elevation on the page or format indicates a recession into depth. Meaning, the higher an object is on a page, the farther back it is.

Illusion of Space by Overlapping

Overlapping is a simple tool that helps create the illusion of depth.





When overlapping is combined with size, the depth is easier to recognize than just the use of overlapping alone as you can see in this Degas.

Scale Confusion

Scale confusion, or the deliberate changing of natural scale is not uncommon in the art world.


In this painting, the boy's body is much larger than it should be in comparison to the ship. But, also, the boy's head is much larger than it should be.

Alternating Rhythm

Alternating rhythm is a rhythm the consists of successive patterns in which the same elements reappear in a regular order. The motifs alternate consistently with one another to produce a regular and anticipated sequence.


Progressive Rhythm

Progressive rhythm is the repetition of a of a shape that changes in a regular pattern.



As you can see in this picture, the perspective on this building gives the illusion that the sizing is changing in a predictable manner, making this an example of progressive rhythm

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Absence of Focal Point

Emphasis of a focal point is not always necessary. When an artists wishes to emphasize the whole instead a single part, you can have the absence of a focal point.

often, the result is crystallographic balance, or all over pattern.



Emphasis by Placement




If many elements point to an item, our attention is directed there which results in a focal point. In this case, everyone in the painting is looking to George Washington which subconsciously makes us look that way too.

Emphasis by Isolation

Isolation can give extreme emphasis to a single object.


There is nothing different about the dot in the top left hand corner, but because it isolated, it is viewed as an individual and not a group.


The same thing goes for this image.

Emphasis by Contrast

As a rule, a focal point results when one element differs from the others. You can create a focal point by using contrast many different ways, one obvious one is in a design where most elements are dark, a light form breaks the pattern and becomes a focal point.

Caravaggio used this technique often.


Crystallographic Balance

Crystallographic Balance can also be described as all over pattern. Which is pretty self explanatory, but basically, the loss of individualism creates an all over balance and unity.

Radial Balance

This third variety of balance is called radial balance. It means that all elements radiate or circle out from a common central point.



this stained glass window is a perfect example of radial symmetry.












Radial symmetry can also be found often in nature:


Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Balance

In symmetrical balance, like shapes are repeated in the same positions on either side of a vertical axis. This is the simplest type of balance.

In bilateral symmetry, one side literally becomes a mirror image of the other side. And this type of symmetry is very popular in architecture.





















In asymmetrical balance, both sides are not mirror images, it just means the visual weight on both sides is equal.





Unity through Variety

Unity can be achieved through variety, if the objects are related variations of each other.




The houses are many different colors, but their shape is so similar they remain unified.






These are not only different colors, but different fruit and yet this photo still has unity. Varied repetition creates a very interesting visual image.

Unity through Continuity

The visual relationship between two or more individual designs is known as continuity.
Artists will often use a tool called a grid to help aid in building a framework to a design that creates unity within a composition.

Andy Warhol used a grid in many of his pop art works.




Unity through Continuation

Continuation is a line or edge that continues from one form to another, allowing the eye to move smoothly through a composition, and this can also attribute to unity.





This device is much more subtle than that of repetition and proximity. As you can see in this Degas painting, the dancer on the left is leaning towards the next dancers, then the rail they are stretching on continues to the dancers on the other side of the painting and the bottom right dancer's leg is stretched towards the dancer on the far left, which causes the eye to travel full circle through the composition.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Unity through Repetition

Repetition is using the same visual item over again which creates unity within the composition.

The element that repeats can be almost anything;


like the yellows in this Cezanne still life.



The shapes in this photograph.




and the texture in this photo.

Unity through Proximity

Proximity is the degree of closeness in the placement of elements,and this can help create unity. If items are placed far apart they can seem unrelated, but placing items close together groups them together and unifies the image.




In this Frida Kahlo still life, you can see that all of the objects are placed close together, which lumps them into one large group. If she had placed them farther apart, we may see them as separate types of fruit instead of one cluster of fruit.





Simply placing items close together gives them a relationship, even if they are unrelated.