Using
a low eye level in perspective drawing creates the space
for a large area of sky.
The
sky, therefore, becomes a major influence on the scale,
tone, colour and mood of the picture.
It
can be used to dramatic effect in different ways.
Scale: By lowering the viewpoint, you emphasise the height
and power of objects in the foreground. This has the effect
of making the viewer feel small.
Tone
and Colour: As the sky is the main source of light in a
landscape, it sets the key for the tone and colour of the
picture.
Tone and colour are the two visual elements which combine
to create the mood of the picture.
By
varying the contrast or harmony of tones, we can create
a dramatic or calm atmosphere.
By
varying the colours we can control the strength of its emotional
impact. For example, bright colours create a fresh and cheerful
atmosphere, while dark colours convey a sense of doom and
gloom.
Using
a low eye level effectively increases the area of sky and
amplifies these effects.
Mood:
the illustrations below demonstrate the effects of different
skies on the mood of our landscape.
A
Sunny Day
A
Dramatic Sunset
After
The Storm
A
Starry Night
FAMOUS
ARTWORKS
THAT USE A LOW EYE LEVEL
John
Constable (1776-1837)
'Stonehenge,
Wiltshire' (1836)
V&A
Museum, London
Constable
uses a low eye level to make space for the dramatic sky
whose energetic brushwork injects life into what otherwise
would be a silent and still image.
Joseph
M W Turner (1775-1851)
'The
Fighting Temeraire' (1838)
National
Gallery, London
As
well as creating a spectacularly radiant sky with his setting
sun, Turner also uses the low eye level to emphasise the
height of the ghostly ship, even although it is still some
distance away.
In
this Hokusai woodblock print, from the series '36 Views
of Mount Fuji', a low eye level is used to emphasise the
colossal height and power of the huge wave which seems ready
to engulf Mount Fuji itself.
Vincent
Van Gogh (1853-1890)
'Starry Night' (1889)
Museum
of Modern Art, New York
In
this Van Gogh painting, there is direct link between the
rhythms of the rolling landscape and the swirling power
of the heavens above. The picture uses the vast area of
sky, created by the use of a low eye level, to convey the
turbulent energy of the universe from which the landscape
draws its sustenance.
You
can read a more detailed evaluation of 'Starry
Night' on the next page. |
