Principles of Picture Building

Principles of picture Building

Your unique vision is brought to the same principles whether it is a blank piece of paper or canvas. We fill the negative space with shapes creating a flow throughout the piece of art.

Getting started we select a group of objects, four or five to start. Now arrange them giving careful thought where you place them. Keep in mind the size and placement of the main object. In overlapping these objects make sure that you leave all identifying characteristics of each object in view.

Principles of perspective

Using the size, placement and by overlapping these objects you are applying principles of perspective in your picture area. Be careful you are creating a sense of reality, you do this by showing the depth of each object, a three dimensional effect on a 2 dimensional surface.

We get that feeling of depth by overlapping these objects or by make them reduce in size. Smaller objects appear to be further away when drawing them in perspective even though they are the same size.

The same rule apply when drawing figures. The one thing is that people have to interact with each other. The viewer will look for expressions and gestures. Every ones character come out and no two are the same, so you need to draw them in a convincing manner.

Same principles apply

Showing depth is to overlap, crop and make objects smaller as the recede into the distance. It creates the illusion of reality. You must remember you are telling a story, taking the viewer down a visual path. The more interesting the path the more a viewer will want to visit again and again.

We can also use the environment to create depth. Putting objects like trees in the foreground or a table in front of a dinner guest to draw the eye to the center of interest. Your eye level, the horizon and a single vanishing point is perspective.

Putting motion in your picture area will also add interest and direction. By placing large objects in the foreground and lead the viewer’s eyes down a road or a tree line in the same direction will extend the background leading your eye to the objects in the distance.

Each of these principles work together

Grouping your object is a great way to create interest. By drawing objects or subjects with a sense of depth in a group can create a dramatic effect. Placing an element in the foreground to the right or left and diagonally layer and reduces the size of the objects in groups. You can stagger them for variety and interest. Add a common thread in shape or a pattern of shapes into the vanishing point. The largest objects or subject becomes secondary to the perspective of the groups.

Now that you know the principles. It’s time to apply them by create a picture. A picture area with several combined elements are carefully placed to create one varied, interesting, balanced drawing.

You can see how color creates depth in my acrylics.