Unit 2 - Aerial Perspective with Ink Choice Drawing: Layered Vellum or Scratchart
How do artists create an illusion of depth? What is atmospheric perspective?
How can artists create a new way of manipulating materials to express an idea?
Atmospheric perspective refers to the effect the atmosphere has on the appearance of an object as it is viewed from a distance. As the distance between an object and a viewer increases, the contrast between the object and its background decreases, and the contrast of any markings or details within the object also decreases.
This can also be illustrated by size changes of objects or land masses. As objects get further away from the viewer, they appear smaller; in contrast, when the opposite occurs, objects appear bigger as they get closer to the viewer.
How can artists create a new way of manipulating materials to express an idea?
Atmospheric perspective refers to the effect the atmosphere has on the appearance of an object as it is viewed from a distance. As the distance between an object and a viewer increases, the contrast between the object and its background decreases, and the contrast of any markings or details within the object also decreases.
This can also be illustrated by size changes of objects or land masses. As objects get further away from the viewer, they appear smaller; in contrast, when the opposite occurs, objects appear bigger as they get closer to the viewer.
Your Artistic Problem
Your job is to create an illusion of depth through your chosen theme by drawing images or objects on "see through" vellum paper with ink and marker.
Step I - Experimenting (Sketchbook Work)
In your sketchbook, create a value scale of each of the these ink shading techniques. You may use a fine point sharpie, a ball point pen, or a calligraphy pen:
Step II - Asymmetrical Balance & Design (Sketchbook Work)
Your job is to create an illusion of depth through your chosen theme by drawing images or objects on "see through" vellum paper with ink and marker.
Step I - Experimenting (Sketchbook Work)
In your sketchbook, create a value scale of each of the these ink shading techniques. You may use a fine point sharpie, a ball point pen, or a calligraphy pen:
- hatching
- cross hatching
- stippling
- scribbles
- ink wash tonal changes
Step II - Asymmetrical Balance & Design (Sketchbook Work)
- Asymmetrical Balance is a principle of design in visual art where the two sides of the composition or form are not identical, but differ from one another. However, the elements are arranged so that there is a sense of balance and stability.
- In your sketchbook, create 3 examples of asymmetrical balance using shapes, lines, and positive/negative space.
- Below, are examples of asymmetrical balance found in visual artwork. The "Balance" diagram depicts examples of symmetry and asymmetry. Asymmetrical Balance can be created with contrasting size of shapes or forms, textures, brightness or dullness of color, thicknesses of lines, organization of shapes, etc.
Choice 1: Formative Assessment - Vellum Layered Drawing
Step III - Planning (Sketchbook Work)
Step IV - Resource Search
- Choose a theme: In the visual arts, a theme is a broad idea or a message conveyed by a work, such as a performance, a painting, a motion picture, or a video game. This message is usually about life, society or human nature.
- What do you have to say as an art student? What concerns you about life, society or human nature? What images / subject matter would best suit your theme?
- How will you organize your subject matter? How will you lay out your composition?
- How will you know when your work is successful, or finished?
- If you have trouble deciding on a theme, go with the theme of "Transformation".
- Design a creative mind map of your ideas. Deconstruct your idea into visual representation. Branch of from a center idea or your theme.
Step IV - Resource Search
- Keep the imagery simple. CAUTION!!!: Do not use pop culture images or cartoons. Do not use copyrighted imagery. The best images are the ones you originate or photograph.
- If you are going to use an image from the internet, magazine or book, it needs to be general enough that it could be read as either borrowed, original or highly modified / appropriated. (Ex: a generic bird, a building, a landscape, an animal, an object, etc.)
Alia El-Bermani was raised in a small town just south of Boston, where she spent most of her
childhood enjoying the outdoors and discovering the natural history of the south shore of Massachusetts.
El-Bermani started her art training as a young child at the North River Arts Society, which is a small community run association for people, of all ages, interested in the visual arts. As a high school student, she showed early promise earning a Silver Key in the national Scholastic Art competition held at the World Trade Center in Boston. In 1994, she briefly attended Roger Williams University in Bristol Rhode Island, a large liberal arts college that just didn’t quite have the clear focus that Ms. El-Bermani was seeking. So, in 1996 she transferred to Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach California which is known for its strong emphasis on classical figurative training.
While studying at Laguna College of Art and Design,which is known for its strong emphasis on classical figurative training, Alia El-Bermani received the Plotkin Award for Excellence in Fine Arts. Then, in 2000 she received her BFA from LCAD, summa com laude. Ever since, she has enjoyed continued success as a fine artist. This talented painter has had six Solo Exhibitions. Her figurative and still life paintings and drawings have been included in several group shows across the country as well as showcased in Museums such as the Palm Springs Desert Museum in California, the Anchorage Museum of History and Art in Alaska, the West Valley Art Museum in Arizona, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in Toronto and most recently at the Greenville Museum of Art in North Carolina. She is a member of the Portrait Society of America as well as a co-founder of the important blog Women Painting Women. Ms. El-Bermani was a recent Finalist in the Figurative Category of the prestigious Art Renewal Center’s 2010-2011 International ARC Salon. Several articles have been written on her work in such periodicals as American Art Collector, ArtSee, Art Week, The Independent and LA Weekly. She currently lives and works in Apex, NC.
childhood enjoying the outdoors and discovering the natural history of the south shore of Massachusetts.
El-Bermani started her art training as a young child at the North River Arts Society, which is a small community run association for people, of all ages, interested in the visual arts. As a high school student, she showed early promise earning a Silver Key in the national Scholastic Art competition held at the World Trade Center in Boston. In 1994, she briefly attended Roger Williams University in Bristol Rhode Island, a large liberal arts college that just didn’t quite have the clear focus that Ms. El-Bermani was seeking. So, in 1996 she transferred to Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach California which is known for its strong emphasis on classical figurative training.
While studying at Laguna College of Art and Design,which is known for its strong emphasis on classical figurative training, Alia El-Bermani received the Plotkin Award for Excellence in Fine Arts. Then, in 2000 she received her BFA from LCAD, summa com laude. Ever since, she has enjoyed continued success as a fine artist. This talented painter has had six Solo Exhibitions. Her figurative and still life paintings and drawings have been included in several group shows across the country as well as showcased in Museums such as the Palm Springs Desert Museum in California, the Anchorage Museum of History and Art in Alaska, the West Valley Art Museum in Arizona, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in Toronto and most recently at the Greenville Museum of Art in North Carolina. She is a member of the Portrait Society of America as well as a co-founder of the important blog Women Painting Women. Ms. El-Bermani was a recent Finalist in the Figurative Category of the prestigious Art Renewal Center’s 2010-2011 International ARC Salon. Several articles have been written on her work in such periodicals as American Art Collector, ArtSee, Art Week, The Independent and LA Weekly. She currently lives and works in Apex, NC.
| rubric_-_layered_vellum_ink_drawing.pdf |
My drawings are visual rhymes, aligning and departing through translucent layers. They derive energy from the tension of opposites or odd harmonies superimposed like double exposed film.
Other Examples
Which of these examples shows "Aerial Perspective?"
MGSH Student Examples 2015
Which artwork best shows aerial (atmospheric) perspective? Why?
Which artwork shows greatest contrast? Why?
Which artwork shows good asymmetrical balance? Why?
Which artwork does not show an understanding of asymmetrical balance? Why?
Which artwork could show a better understanding of depth? Why?
Which artwork shows greatest contrast? Why?
Which artwork shows good asymmetrical balance? Why?
Which artwork does not show an understanding of asymmetrical balance? Why?
Which artwork could show a better understanding of depth? Why?
Choice 2 - ScratchArt Drawing with Hatching to Depict Depth
Your Artistic Problem
Your job is to create an illusion of depth through your chosen theme by drawing images or objects on scratchart (scraperboard) paper.
The following video is extremely long (1hr30min approx.). Skip ahead to the parts that look helpful.
Your job is to create an illusion of depth through your chosen theme by drawing images or objects on scratchart (scraperboard) paper.
The following video is extremely long (1hr30min approx.). Skip ahead to the parts that look helpful.
Step I - Experimenting (Sketchbook Work)
On a scrap scratch-art test strip, create a value scale of each of the these ink shading techniques. You may use a fine point sharpie, a ball point pen, or a calligraphy pen:
On a scrap scratch-art test strip, create a value scale of each of the these ink shading techniques. You may use a fine point sharpie, a ball point pen, or a calligraphy pen:
- hatching
- cross hatching
- stippling
- scribbles
- ink wash tonal changes
Step II - Asymmetrical Balance & Design (Sketchbook Work) - see slideshow above on asymmetrical balance.
- Asymmetrical Balance is a principle of design in visual art where the two sides of the composition or form are not identical, but differ from one another. However, the elements are arranged so that there is a sense of balance and stability.
- In your sketchbook, create 3 examples of asymmetrical balance using shapes, lines, and positive/negative space.
- Asymmetrical Balance can be created with contrasting size of shapes or forms, textures, brightness or dullness of color, thicknesses of lines, organization of shapes, etc.
Step III - Project Planning
- Your drawing should show a good understanding of shading, hatching, proportion, texture, contrast, depth and balance.
- You may use a reference image that belongs to you (nothing from the internet, unless it's from your FB, Instagram, etc)
- No cartoons, or pop references. Get creative and original.
- Follow the directions on the following pdf file. #5 on the pdf may be extra helpful...but only use a printed image that belongs to you.
| scratch-art-instructions.pdf |
