Friday, June 1, 2012

Sunrise

Sunrise: Basic Landscape Perspective Study. This 16 X 20 landscape is part of a class I will be teaching next year in basic landscape design. The background for this piece is, what the students will be making. I have laid the large flower and the crane on it as an illustration of the many possibilities you can use to show depth and perspective. Without the flower and crane, the focal point is the sun. Using what I call the ladder or multiple planes technique, we will be working much like ancient Oriental designers composed. Starting at the highest point, you work your way down the composition, using horizontal planes of color value. To show distance, you make your planes more narrow as you work you way down and then wider as you reach middle ground. The colors stay in the blue range at the top, becoming green in the middle ground. Size, and color value suggest distance. The foreground greens are much brighter than the middle ground greens. No matter what form your landscape takes, this basic design is what you build on. Understanding how to show depth is the basis of all realistic landscapes. For extreme distance, in this case, we go from the overly large flower, to the middle sized crane, to the smaller sun. This shows distance by comparison. Size and scale. This is also the trick that photographers use.

5 comments:

  1. Judy I learn so much when I come to visit your blog and once again you have explained heaps. I wish you great success in teaching this piece. It is fantastic!
    Have a great weekend!
    x Suzy

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  2. I love this piece too Judy!Your students will learn loads from your example.

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  3. As you say (my blog) we're on the same plane! Lovely piece and great as a teaching sample! One of my talks/demos is on just the things you mention - I may have to refer them to your blog!!!!!

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  4. Judy, this is a lovely piece! And it certainly does show perspective and depth. LOVE the sky.

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  5. Great sample piece for your class - your students should learn & enjoy!
    Hope it goes well.

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Thank you so much for your comments.