3.3: Strategic Use of Designing Elements

Below are several methods to effectively utilize shapes to create the illusion of space in a two dimensional artwork, such as a drawing or painting. Visual elements of art are powerful tools for manipulating the perception of shape/space within a composition. Through the strategic use of shapes and other design elements and principles, artists and designers can convey depth and dimensionality within a flat surface.

Line

Lines are crucial in art. They guide the viewer's eye, create depth, and outline shapes. For instance, converging lines in linear perspective lead the eye to a vanishing point, showing distance. They define shapes, create textures, and direct the viewer's eye across the artwork. Lines can be straight, curved, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, each giving different feelings. Try using different line qualities like thickness, direction, shading, and texture to add depth and interest to your art.

"The Great Wave off Kanagawa " (1831) by Katsushika Hokusai is in the public domain

Shape

Shapes are essential for creating forms and spaces in art. Overlapping shapes add layers and depth. Geometric shapes organize space, while organic shapes create a
natural and flowing feel. Lines define shapes and can be either geometric (precise and regular) or organic (irregular and found in nature). Combining geometric and organic shapes creates contrast and interest. Geometric shapes provide structure, while organic shapes add naturalism and spontaneity. For instance, a cityscape (geometric) with a park in the foreground (organic) demonstrates how these shape types interact and balance each other. ³⁶

Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907) revolutionized art with its bold use of shape, breaking away from traditional representations. Picasso fragmented the human form into geometric shapes, creating an abstract and disjointed depiction of five female figures. This painting challenged conventional views of beauty and proportion and marked the advent of Cubism, a movement that Picasso co-founded. "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" underscores the expressive and conceptual power of shape, highlighting its significance in the evolution of modern art. Through this work, Picasso demonstrated how shape could transcend mere representation, inviting viewers to engage with art on a more profound level.³⁷

Value

Value refers to the lightness and darkness of colors and is crucial for creating depth and volume in art. Light and dark values create contrast and define forms, making objects appear three-dimensional. Gradual changes in value, called gradients, suggest curvature and depth, adding volume to flat shapes. Artists use different values to simulate light and shadow, enhancing the illusion of space and form. By practicing shading, artists create a range of values from light to dark. Shadows add volume to objects, and light areas suggest surfaces closest to the light source. For example, a sphere with a light source from the top left creates a gradient from light to dark across its surface, showing form and depth.

Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" offers a stunning demonstration of value to create depth, realism, and focus. Vermeer's masterful use of light and shadow, particularly the soft gradations of value on the girl's face and the luminous highlight on the pearl earring, creates a sense of three-dimensionality and immediacy. The subtle transitions between light and dark areas sculpt the features of the girl’s face and draw attention to the focal point of the artwork—the reflective pearl. This meticulous attention to value nuances highlights Vermeer's skill in manipulating light to enhance the emotional and aesthetic impact of the painting.

"The Girl with a Pearl Earrings "1665, by Johannes Vermeer, is in the public domain via WikiArt.org.

Color

Color variations can improve the perception of space. Additionally, atmospheric perspective utilizes color saturation and lightness to convey distance. Color adds depth to the artwork through its hue (the color itself), saturation (the purity or intensity of the color), and brightness (how light or dark a color appears). These aspects of color can influence the mood of the artwork and the perception of space and distance. Different color, saturation, and brightness levels can create focal points and depth. Cooler, less
saturated colors can appear more distant, while warmer, brighter colors can seem closer. For instance, a landscape with a foreground in warm, vivid colors and a background with mountains in cooler, muted hues enhance the sense of distance.³⁸

Claude Monet's painting "San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk" illustrates how color can depict atmosphere
and time of day. Monet skillfully employs subtle color transitions to capture the evening light during
dusk. The warm hues of yellow, red, and orange are surrounded by cool hues of blue, suggesting the
setting sun and evening sky reflecting on the water's surface. The interplay of colors creates an instantly
recognizable mood, demonstrating how color choices significantly affect the viewer's experience.

"San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk" 1908, by Claude Monet, is in the Public Domain via WikiArt.org.

Texture

Texture refers to the surface quality of an artwork, either actual (tactile) or implied (visual). It can suggest depth and add interest to a composition, making elements appear closer or farther away depending on their smoothness or roughness. To suggest depth, apply texture through varied mark making or media techniques. For example, a close-up of a rock with a detailed, rough texture contrasted against a soft, blurry background implies spatial depth

Albrecht Dürer's "Young Hare" is a masterful demonstration of texture in art. Dürer, with meticulous attention to detail, captures the softness and variation in the hare's fur, from the delicate whiskers to the dense coat. Using watercolor and gouache, he achieves astonishing realism, making the hare's fur appear tactile and lifelike. The texture is so precisely rendered that viewers can almost sense the feel of the hare's fur beneath their fingers. Dürer's work is a testament to the power of texture in art to bring subjects
to life, enhancing the viewer's sensory experience and deepening the connection with the artwork. Through "Young Hare," Dürer highlights his unparalleled skill in using texture to create depth, dimension, and a sense of presence.

"Young Hare" 1502, by Albrecht Durer is in the Public Domain via WikiArt.org