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INTRODUCTION |
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In visual arts aesthetics is the philosophy of what is visually appealing. The Gestalt Theory, is a theory of aestheticism that describes the ability of the human brain to percieve seperate units as a whole, and that the brain seeks order in design. |
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THE PICTURE PLANE |
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The Picture Plane is the flat, two-dimensional surface (a canvas, sheet of paper, panel or weaving) on which the artist creates the image. The width and hieght and shape of the painting, drawing, photograph, print or tapestry is what is referred to as format.
Traditionally the picture plane can be defined as a) foreground, b) middle ground and c) back ground. The foreground is understood to be visually nearest the viewer. The middle ground is understood visually between the foreground and the back ground, which understood the be the most visually distant.
In more modern approaches to art and design the picture plane has been used to convey minimal depth defying the traditional interpretation mentioned above.
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Within the boundaries of the format of the picture plane artists create images. These images may fall under the heading of design ( ) or, in fine art, drawing and painting and so on.
When a design incoorporates strict contrast of black and white the simpliest of relationships is established. The relationship is that of figure and ground. The ground is defined as the back ground of the design or image. The figure is then the design (or image) itself. |
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Note that the circle (figure) in the example on the left will be understood to nearer the viewer as it is perceived as in front of the ground (background). In fine art diciplines such as drawing the figure in this example may be referred to as the subject or subject matter. |
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The figure may be represented as black on a white ground. Or the figure my be understood as white on a black ground, as in the student example on the left |
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In the visual arts a shape is an area in the which the outer edges are defined either by an enclosing line (outline) or by a single value, color or texture. An example would be the circle to the left. |
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Form, on the other hand, is area that by the use of value gradations or color blending achieves the illusion of three dimensions. The sphere to the left is an example. |
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An Ellipse is a circle projected into space. A circle will only be a circle if it is parallel to the picture plane. If a circle is not parallel to the picture plane the result is an ellipse. |
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Line is defined as a point in motion. Or as the Swiss artist Paul Klee once said, "a line is a dot out for a walk." The range of variations in the thiness or thickness of a line and it's light or bold qualites is what is referred to as line quality. |
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Click the red button beside your course to move on... |
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2D Design |
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Drawing I |
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Drawing II |
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Color Theory |
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