Wednesday Art Challenge – Perspective

For Gill’s Wednesday Art Challenge this week, we’re exploring perspective.

Perspective is based upon representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface/plain, so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other. It is usually referred to as the way objects appear smaller when they are further away and the way parallel lines appear to meet each other at a point in the distance.

Alternatively, it can also mean a particular way of viewing things that depends on one’s experience and personality.

For this week’s challenge, we want you to think about representing a scene or situation which gives a sense of distance / depth. This could be another opportunity to look at your garden, perhaps focusing on looking down a path, wall or border. You could draw a room in your house such as the hall, or looking up the stairs if you have them, or a room with a tiled wall or floor to give you hard lines to focus on. You could even capture the view of your road / down your street, if you are able to do so.

Artists who have used perspective to their advantage include Julian Opie (road views), J.M.W. Turner (architectural studies) and Salvador Dali to name but a few.

This photo of Christine Wilcox-Baker’s 2012 exhibition in the Start Space Gallery on the Mezzanine at the old Kirkby Gallery really plays on the perspective of the long space. The lines of the flooring help draw the eye, and the difference in the appearance of size between the chairs in the foreground and the sofa in the background is staggering.