Space, Composition, Chiaroscuro, and Movement in Art
Representing Space Resources
- Overlay planes: Forms are partially hidden.
- Variation in size: Smaller objects appear more distant.
- Position stand: Objects higher up appear further away, lower down appear nearer.
- Dynamics of color: More distant objects have less defined outlines, brighter colors, and less contrast. This is called aerial perspective.
- Light: Contrasts of light and shadow are equal, and objects in the distance appear grayer. Chiaroscuro is used to profile objects.
- Conical perspective.
Compositional Techniques
Composing is organizing all the elements of an image.
- Symmetrical composition: Elements are arranged such that two or more have corresponding shapes and dimensions on either side of a point, axis, or plane. It can appear colder and more artificial.
- Asymmetrical composition: Shapes can resemble letters or figures like S, L, or C.
The golden section describes the division of a segment into proportional and harmonic parts. It can be used to construct a rectangle with pleasing proportions. The ratio of the largest side to the smallest side is 1/1.618 or 2/1.236.
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro is the artistic process of giving volume to objects using the contrast of light and shadow. Degrees of brightness:
- Illuminated area: Directly affected by light.
- Own shadow: The opposite side remains in shadow.
- Penumbra: The transition from light to shadow is gradual.
- Cast shadow: The projection of the object’s shadow.
- Reflected light: Where light is reflected from one object to another.
There are two sources of light:
- Natural light: Bright light from the sun in the middle of the day, mild at dawn and dusk.
- Artificial light: Produced by means other than the sun. It is non-uniform and depends on the distance from the light source.
Applications in Photography
- Overlapping levels: Clear background or a completely blurred background gives prominence to the foreground.
- Types of frame: Allows emphasizing different elements.
- Light: Contrasts of light and shadow create chiaroscuro effects that produce very expressive results.
- Color: Highlight elements or use black and white composition.
The Representation of Movement
Movement is the condition of bodies as they change location or position. There are three plastic representations:
- Real movement: Occurs when a body moves in space.
- Rest: A total lack of movement.
- Apparent motion: The sense of movement that an object at rest conveys.
Real Movement in Art: Kinetic Art
Kinetic art introduces the innovation of allowing the artwork to change and be re-created indefinitely, keeping the viewer’s attention.
Representation of Motion in Three-Dimensional Works
These can be grouped into works with narrative claims and works with perceptual dynamics.
- Narrative claims: Aim to narrate a sequence of events in time, such as a comic.
- Perceptual dynamics: Works that seem to have movement using these resources:
- Multiplication of lines or shapes, creating rhythms that give the impression of dynamism.
- Presence of curved lines; straight lines also provide a sense of dynamism.
- Unstable position of the elements of composition, such as standing on one leg, reflecting an attitude of movement rather than natural balance.