Design Drawing

Space and Depth

• Pictorial space is the illusion of space or depth on a 2-dimensional surface by graphic methods.

• We are going to explore several of these sensory shifts, graphic tricks that provoke the illusion of space and depth.

Depth Cues• Continuity of Outline-otherwise known as overlap. Can be

enhanced by varying line weights and by adding tonal value or contrast, creates the illusion of more space.

• Size Perception-the apparent reduction of size as an object moves further away. We assess scale of similar objects and when presented as different sizes, the larger seems closer while the smaller seems further away.

• Vertical Location-objects that are near us appear lower in the visual field while objects move farther away, have to shift gradually upward in our visual field.

• Linear Perspective-a drawing system derived from perspective projection, where parallel lines appear to recede to a common vanishing point.

• Atmospheric Perspective-the progressive muting of hues, tonal values, and contrast as objects are further away from the viewer.

• Perspective of Blur-objects that are not in the visual plane that we wish the viewer to focus on are drawn with an indistinct form or outline. This technique is often incorporated with atmospheric perspective.

• Texture Perspective-the gradual increase in texture of a surface as it recedes, from the continuous reduction in size and diminished spacing.

• Shift of Texture or Linear Spacing-a shift of texture or linear spacing conveys an interval of space between the foreground and background. Linear spacing is related to size perspective.

• Transition between Light and Shade-an abrupt shift in brightness simulates the perception of a spatial edge and enhances the sense of overlap and atmospheric perspective.

Exercise 1– Compose a drawing employing several of the depth cues discussed. Label your drawings with the cues used.

(45 minutes)

BUILDING A DRAWING

• Establish composition and structure

• Layer tonal values and textures

• Add significant details

Composing a View

• Establish 3 pictorial regions-foreground, middle ground, background.

• Experiment with different ways of composing a view

Establishing Structure

• Once you have established your composition, begin to set up your drawing with regulating lines.

• Small objects will have very little foreshortening, while environments will illustrate more foreshortening.

• We will cover perspective techniques in the next section of the curriculum

• Scale

• Scale refers to relative size

• Depending on the scale of what we are drawing, the actual size is may not be that important.

• It is the relativity of its size to the objects around it that matters most.

• If something is thin, then something else in the drawing must be thick-comparison and relativity.

Human Scale

• How big or small something makes us feel.

• Scale figures are often used in drawings to establish how large or small things are.

Layering Tonal Values

• We use tonal values to represent light and dark areas in a drawing.

• Tonal values define planes, describe surface color and texture, and convey spatial depth.

• Always work from light to dark.

Adding Details

• The final stage of building a drawing is the addition of details

• Details use the same structure established early in the drawing

• Drawings need areas of contrast with little or no details

• Use details selectively, don’t try to photographically reproduce the image.

Drawing on Location

• When drawing from a photograph it is easier to detect the foreshortening of shapes, direction of lines and pictorial relationships.

• Drawing on location is more challenging, as our mind’s eye completes the image, based on our personal interests.

• Exercise 2--Pick a location at the Factory and draw the scene using the steps outlines above. Please include at least one scale figure.

(45 minutes)

• Homework--Pick a building or a interior and draw the scene using the steps that were covered today. Please include at least one scale figure.