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.