Space – Perspective

Artist: Dong Yoon Park
Title of Work: Sketches
Year Produced: 2003
Medium: Pen
Source of image: http://www.cre8ive.kr/blog/category/works/drawings/

Artist: Brendan Polk
Title of Work: Two-Point Perspective
Year Produced: Unlisted
Medium: Pencil on paper
Source of image: http://amackenzie14.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/two-point-perspective-reasource/

Perspective is the term for the view in which a piece of art is presented. For example, the first piece has a one-point perspective in which everything vanishes at one point on the horizon. Also, its perspective seems to be at around normal eye-level. In the second piece, there is a two-point perspective, in which the forms in the piece continue back to vanish at two different points on the horizon. The perspective in this piece is also from a slightly lowered perspective. Perspective is important because the correct perspective can create a much more dynamic, interesting piece.

 

Space – Compositional

Artist: Degas
Title of Work: The Rehearsal
Year Produced: 1873-78
Medium: Oil on canvas
Source: http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/degas/ballet/

Artist: Sandro Botticelli
Title of Work: The Birth of Venus
Year Produced: 1486
Medium: Tempera on Canvas
Source of image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_%28Botticelli%29

Compositional space basically just means the way in which things are arranged in the piece. Even though this is a simple concept, it is a very important one. The top two pieces are good examples of effective composition. The top one easily draws you into the piece through the placement of the sitting man ballerinas in a slant from the bottom left corner toward the middle of the page, with the sitting man effectively blocking your eye from leaving the page due to his size and dark color. The bottom piece’s composition causes your eye to move towards the main focal point, Venus, but arranging the three people around her so they lead in towards her, with the right pictures arms even pointing towards her.

Space – Illusionistic

Artist: Gaulli, Giovanni Battista
Title of Work: Triumph of the Holy Name of Jesus
Year Produced: 1676-1679
Medium: Fresco
Source of Image: http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54169

Artist: Julian Beever
Title of Work: Unlisted
Year Produced: Unlisted
Medium: Chalk
Source: http://www.moillusions.com/chalk-drawing-illusions/

Illusionistic space is a term used for art that seems to share a physical space with the viewer, when in reality, it does not. Both of the pieces above are good examples of illusionistic space. The first piece, done in fresco on a ceiling, depicts realistic angels breaking through the boarders set on the ceiling, creating the illusion that they are 3-dimensional and share an actual space with the viewer. The bottom piece is done in chalk on a sidewalk in such a way that, when viewed from the correct angle, the illustration seems to become actual objects in 3-dimensional space. An illusionistic is useful in creating eye-catching pieces.

Space – Figure/Ground

Artist: Jeffrey Vanhoutte
Title of Work: Ghent on the Sea
Year Produced: Unlisted
Medium: Photography
Source of Image: http://www.jeffreyvanhoutte.be/showcase.php?cat_id=19

Artist: Markus Hartel
Title of Work: Coney Island Board Walk
Year Produced: Unlisted
Medium: Photography
Source of image: http://www.markushartel.com/american-street-photography/coney-island

Concerning space, figure and ground basically just means the focus (figure) of a piece, and the surroundings/background (ground) of a piece. Both piece are good examples of effective use of figure and ground in art. The top, places a lone stoplight as the figure about 1/3 of the picture from the left, creating a more visually appealing piece. Surrounding the lone figure is very open space, creating a strong focal point on the figure. In the bottom piece, the figure of the couple walking down the boardwalk is well supported by the ground that leads you into them, puts them at an off-set horizon, and then leaves and open space top.

Color – Split Complementary

Source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/split-complementary-colors.html

Artist: Katie Riddler
Title of Work: Park Avenue
Year Produced: Unlisted
Medium: Interior Design
Source: http://www.katieridder.com/

Split complementary is a lot like complementary colors, except instead of having two colors you have a triad consist of one color, and then the two colors next to the color opposite the first, as illustrated by the first image. The second image is a great example of the use of split complementary colors in interior design. They use the color scheme of red, yellow-green, and blue-green, creating a harmonious relationship between the yellow-green and blue-green, with bright focal points of red.

Color – Complementary

Source: http://kinnisonart120.blogspot.com/2011/03/color-quiz.html

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh
Title of Work: Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, at night
Year Produced: 1888
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Source: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/53/Caf%C3%A9-Terrace-on-the-Place-du-Forum,-Arles,-at-Night,-The.html

Complementary colors is the term for a pair of colors that lie across from each other on the color wheel. Complementary colors do exactly what their name implies and complement each other when used together in a piece. They harmonize together and cause each other to stand out. A good example of the use of complementary colors is in this piece by Vincent Van Gogh, he uses blues and purples to complement yellows and oranges, causing both sets of colors to appear very vibrant.

Color – Analogous

Artist: Gonzalo Navarro
Source: http://www.gonzaloruiznavarro.com/blog/complementary-and-analogous-colors

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh
Title of Work: Sunflowers
Year Produced: 1888
Medium: Oil on canvas
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflowers_%28Van_Gogh_series%29

As the first image explains, analogous is the term for the colors near each other on the color wheel, usually referring to a set of three colors in a row. A good example of this element is Van Gogh’s sunflowers. In this piece, he uses and analogous set of yellows and oranges to create a very pleasing piece. This analogous set of colors creates unity and harmony in the piece, while still having slight variation in color to keep it interesting.

Color – Monochromatic

Artist: Adela Leibowitz
Title of work: Lily of the Valley
Year Produced: 2006
Medium: Unlisted
Source of image: http://mocoloco.com/art/archives/003269.php

These pieces are both great examples of monochromatic artwork. Monochromatic basically refers to a piece of all one hue. This piece can use many different values and saturation, but it only uses one hue throughout the entire piece. Monochromatic art can be great for a few reasons; It’s very effective in portraying a specific emotion, using all one color is a simple way of achieving unity, and, in some cases it can be more interesting simply because of that choice. For example, in these pieces, the top one seems to create a feel of calmness while the bottom creates a feel of excitement and vibrancy simply because of the hues that were used.

Color – Saturation

Medium: Digital
Source: http://www.elegantthemes.com/blog/resources/four-quick-tips-for-improving-color-harmony-in-your-theme-customizations

Artist: Richard E. Adams
Title of work: unlisted
Year produced: 2006
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Source of image: http://www.sito.org/cgi-bin/egads/showart?show=adr.0034

Saturation is the term for the amount of gray in a color. The top image, is a saturation scale from gray to the purest form of the color. The bottom image, though not the best example (it is really hard to find a piece using just saturation), shows how saturation can be used. In it, you’ll see many different saturations of green, in particular on the body of the stuffed cow and in the background. Saturation is just another use of color that can be used to add depth and interest.

Color – Value

Medium: Digital
Source: http://karengillistaylor.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/color-value-scales-inspire-artists-to-grow-their-skills/

Artist: Leanne Wildermuth
Year Produced: 2007
Medium: Oil Paint
Source: http://intricateart.com/monochromatic-evan-in-green/

Value is the term for the lightness or darkness of a color. This piece is a good example of value because the piece only uses one color, but uses an entire scale of value to create an interesting piece with a sense of depth. Value is used to create depth, light source, interest, and many other things.