Art I Fall Semester Exam Part Three : Shape

Picture Plane

The flat surface or plane that the artist organizes the picture in.

Overlapping

A technique in which the artist creates the illusion of depth by placing one object in front of another.

High and Low Placement

A technique in which the artist places an object lower in the picture plane to make it appear closer to the viewer than an object that is placed higher.

Linear Perspective

A technique of creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface by having all parallel lines receding into the distance and converging at one or more vanishing points.

One point perspective

A way to show three dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface using one vanishing point and one set of converging lines.

Two-point perspective

A way to show three dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface using two vanishing points and two sets of converging lines.

Vanishing Point

A point on the eye level line towards which parallel lines are made to recede and meet in a perspective drawing.

Eye Level Line

AKA: Horizon Line – horizontally drawn line that is even with the viewer’s eye.

Aerial Perspective

The diminishing of color intensity to lighter and duller hues to give the illusion of distance.

Framing

The space and point of view for a picture as determined by the picture’s horizontal and vertical borders.

Converging Lines

In linear perspective, lines that represent the parallel edges of an object; these may be drawn to converge to a single vanishing point.

Variety

A principle of design concerned with the inclusion of differences in the elements of a composition to offset unity and add interest to an artwork.

Balance

A principle of design referring to the arrangement of the visual elements to create stability in the artwork.

Asymmetrical Balance

A feeling of balance attained when the visual units on either side of a vertical axis are actually different but are placed in the composition to create a felt balance of the artwork.

Symmetrical Balance

A balance arrangement in which parts of a composition are organized so that one side duplicates or mirrors the other.

Approximate Symmetry

The use of forms that are similar yet different on either side of a vertical axis.

Radial Balance

A balance arrangement that results from the repetitive placement of elements radiating out from a central point.