SPACE

Space refers to the area that a shape or form occupies. It also refers to the background against which we see the shape or form. Space can be defined as positive and negative. The positive space of a design is the filled space in the design—often it is the shapes that make up the design. Negative space is the back­ground. The negative space in design is as important as the positive area.

We live in a three-dimensional world of depth. When we look around us, some things seem closer, some further away. The artist can also show the illusion of depth by using the following means:

Shading - modeling with light and dark

Linear perspective - the relationship between apparent size and space

Atmospheric perspective - how the atmosphere affects the appearance of objects in space

Overlapping - objects in front of one another



In this lesson you will:

Study the design considerations of flat space

Learn the basics of linear perspective

Learn to control space with atmospheric perspective

Shading is the way to make objects appear three-dimensional on a two-dimensional
surface. The different values created when light hits a three-dimensional object cause that object to be seen as occupying space.

When items appear round (occupy space) the illusion of depth is generated. Shading can make
objects look three-dimensional but that limits them to occupying shallow space. 

Overlapping is where objects appear to be on top of one another each and closer to the observer than the next. There is no clue, using only overlap, as to how deep the space is. All you can tell is what thing is closer to you than what. If overlap is used alone with flat shapes, the space
remains fairly flat.

It takes perspective to give the illusion of deep space. 

There are two systems of perspective: 

linear and atmospheric.

Linear Perspective is a system for drawing objects that use lines and vanishing points to determine how much an object’s apparent size changes with space.

It was formalized during the Renaissance and is based on the concept that an object appears smaller as it gets farther away from an observer. The “lines” in linear perspective are used to diagram how much smaller the item would appear.

Basic Concepts With Linear Perspective

The Picture Plane is the “window” that is represented by the picture, refers to the flat surface of the canvas or the physical material onto which the art is placed.

Ground Line is a line that is parallel to the picture plane at the base of the object being used.

The Horizon Line is a theoretical line that represents the eye level of the observer. The horizon line is the same as the horizon (the edge of the land against the sky) only on a large flat plane like the ocean. 

Indoors the horizon is often not visible but there is still a theoretical horizon line representing the point of view of the observer.

Vanishing Points are points usually on the horizon line where receding lines (planes) meet. The number and placement of the vanishing points determines which perspective technique is being used.

Basic Concepts With Linear Perspective:

The Picture Plane is the “window” that is represented by the picture, refers to the flat surface of the canvas or the physical material onto which the art is placed.

Ground Line is a line that is parallel to the picture plane at the base of the object being used.

The Horizon Line is a theoretical line that represents the eye level of the observer. The horizon line is the same as the horizon (the edge of the land against the sky) only on a large flat plane like the ocean. 

Indoors the horizon is often not visible but there is still a theoretical horizon line representing the point of view of the observer.

Vanishing Points are points usually on the horizon line where receding lines (planes) meet. The number and placement of the vanishing points determines which perspective technique is being used.

One point perspective

Two-point Perspective is used when you look at or into the corner of an object. There are two
vanishing points since the two sets of sides are receding in two different directions.

Two point perspective

Three-point perspective is a development of two point perspective. Like two point it has two vanishing points somewhere on the horizon. But three point perspective also has a vanishing point somewhere above or below the horizon which the vertical vanish to.

Three point perspective

Atmospheric perspective is how the atmosphere affects the appearance of objects in space

Atmospheric perspective deals with how the appearance of an object is affected by looking at it through a layer of air. Moisture, dust and pollutants in the atmosphere act to filter the visual
information.

Things To Consider With Atmospheric Perspective:

Foreground means in front - the area immediately in front of the observer.

Middle ground is in the middle. There is no specific measurement for what the limits are -- it is just in the middle.

Background is in the distance. The term means behind (in back of) something. In a landscape it means far away.

Contrast: Use a highly contrasting image for the foreground. It should have high contrast within it and contrast with its surroundings in your image. As the scene goes farther back, use less and less
contrast. Be aware of a highly contrasting background with a softer middle ground. 

Focus: Make the foreground the sharpest in the image, the middle ground the next sharpest and the background the dullest if possible.

Details: Use an object for the foreground that has a lot of details. The background should be chosen because it has little in the way of details. The middle ground, as usual, is in the middle.

Color: Keep the foreground bright and warm in color. The background should be the dullest and
coolest in color. Be careful of warm colors in the background since they will want to come forward.