Illusion of Form

Beginning Art

An artist starts with a two-dimensional surface; it may be a wall, a canvas, a board, or paper By the use of paint, graphite, or other media the artist must make the viewer enter his/her world and share his/her vision. But the actual world isn’t two-dimensional and the artist can’t create a three dimensional world on the surface. How do we get around this problem?

The answer is illusion – to represent the three dimensional world on the two dimensional surface the artist has to use systems of illusion that create the impression of space, of depth and of movement.

You will be studying the effect of light and shadows to create the illusion of form. You will be working from a selfie. Change your selfie to a black and white photograph. Pump up the highlights! Crop it to a square. Now keeping the same proportions you will mathematically increase the scale. Here is the trick!!!....You be drawing upside hiding all the boxes except the one you are drawing. This technique will trick the left side of your brain. You will be amazed by your results!!!