Cherish Depth Perception

by Kathleen Huebener in Painting Tips
     

In the Marion Heritage Center hang two of my acrylic paintings.

One is “Forged Into Steel” which was the last painting I did before my eyesight was restored. Many have asked me how this could be, that I could paint this powerful painting (their words) without seeing. It seems mission impossible, does it not?

I reply, “Only by the grace of God.”

I could not have painted it without His guidance. I give full glory to Him.

Forged Into Steel

I look at my painting objectively. When I painted it, I had no vision in my left eye and very little in the right. Result of my lack of sight, this painting is flat; vibrant, yes; powerful, I agree, but still flat. With no depth perception, I could only paint as I could see.

Fast forward to now, I rejoice with all joy possible. I see now with depth perception.
Who could ever take depth perception for granted?
 It, to me, is as valuable as a cherished gem.
Here is my last painting:
“Opportunity Calling. It’s for you.”
Depth perception plays an important role in one’s artwork and is the fiber makes the art piece literally pop off the canvas or paper. Because of my three-year duration of having no depth perception, I have found that I need to review the basics of depth perception.
Here are just a few basics that you too might find helpful to review:

Values create depth perception: dark, medium, and light.

  ·        Envision in your painting, the dark, medium, and light values as complete units.

·       
Important: the painting MUST have a dominant value.

·       
Remember asymmetrical!
Dark, medium, and light value units must be of different sizes.

 

·        Use the value unit relationships to focus on your focal point.
·        Let dark value and light value oppose each other
by placing them close together for greater “Pop Value”.
There is more to consider for depth perception;
oh my, I could go on but I feel the urge to paint.
                         Have fun painting!
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