The Picture Plane in Fine Art

The picture plane in art is the flat surface on which artists paint, i.e. canvas. This flat surface is also a make-believe plane; artists can create false spatial impressions. Forms can seem flat on the picture plane, i.e the lower edge of the water. Forms can be behind the picture plane, i.e. the windmill and green trees. Forms can appear in front of the picture plane. In my painting, Impression Windmill, my forms are behind the picture plane and create a feeling of depth and space. In the image I altered with Photoshop, I made the bottom fence extend in front of the picture plane. The fence is protruding into the viewers’ space. Artists may paint a figure with the lower leg stepping outside and in front of the picture plane. There are many other forms that artists use to create an illusion of space extending in front of the picture plane, i.e. the petal of a flower, the wing of a bird. These are intimate and animated connections with viewers.

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Colour Contrast in Art - My Unfinished Painting

This image is a painting that I have not yet finished. I will likely eliminate the building on the left. I love colours and their exciting effects. I used the complementary colours (hues), orange and blue; green and red. In a prior post I wrote about complementary hues and simultaneous contrast. Complementary hues when placed beside each other are enhanced. Colours are affected by other colours. The mountains are a muted violet hue. They are near the blue sky and the green trees. When I painted the mountains I used cool blues. However the cool blue of the sky and green of the trees affect the colour of the mountains. The mountains are a warmer violet. Although they were painted blue, we see the violet hue because of the effect of colour contrast, colour temperatures and complements.

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In August 2010 my paintings will be exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

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Eye Movement in Paintings, About An Article by James Gurney

I read an interesting article in the April/May 2010, issue of the magazine, International Artist. The article was written by James Gurney, artist, author and illustrator of the Dinotopia books. The article was on eye tracking and the design of pictures. He had paintings reviewed by Eyetools, Inc. This firm’s technology records viewers’ gazes as they move through paintings. The findings showed that viewers’ eyes did not move in a curve or circular direction. Their eyes moved from one point of interest to another. Eyes do not necessarily go to an element on the golden grid. They went to strong elements in the painting. All viewers do not move through the painting in the same manner. Viewers are not passive and not controlled by a composition. Gurney concluded that artists shouldn’t think in abstract design elements alone. They have a role but human and narrative elements have a strong impact on the viewers’ movement through the painting. I was taught the elements and principles of art. I know that certain elements have more visual weight than other elements. Faces and figures have significant weight. Contrast of elements has weight. Principles of unity, balance and more are still necessary. For me the article confirmed my opinion that elements of art play an important role in paintings.

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In August 2010 my paintings will be exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. http://www.artforallcanada.org/.

See my Zazzle shop for items with images of my paintings. Customize style, colour, border & more. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist

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