Spatial Puzzles (Equivocal Space) (42)

Equivocal Space
-an ambiguous space in which it is hard to distinguish the foreground from the background
-your perception seems to alternate from one to the other

-the mirror like image makes it hard for the viewer to see what it the background/foreground

-the transparent sails are very confusing! you can't quite tell which boat is in the back or in the front

Amplified Perspective (40)

Amplified Perspective
-a dynamic and dramatic illusionistic effect created when an object is pointed directly at the viewer

Illusion of Space by Linear Perspective (39)

Linear Perspective
-a spatial system used in two-dimensional artworks to create the illusion of space
-it is based on the perception that if parallel lines are extended to the horizon line, they appear to converge and meet at a common point, called the vanishing point

Illusion of Space by Atmospheric Perspective (38)

Aerial/Atmospheric Perspective
-the perception of less distinct contours and value contrasts as forms recede into the background
-colors appear to be washed out in the distance or take on the color of the atmosphere
-"atmospheric perspective can be simply described: as colors go into the distance, two things happen. First, they become cooler (the atmosphere colors them), and they get lighter in value. A dark shadow in the distance is never as dark as the shadow at your feet"

Illusion of Space by Vertical Location (37)

Vertical Location
-a spacial device in which elevation on the page or format indicates a recession into depth
-the higher an object, the farther back it is assumed to be

-the chick in the back seems farther away even though they are on a flat piece of paper

Illusion of Space by Overlapping (36)

Overlapping
-a simple device for creating an illusion of depth

-the balls overlapping gives the illusion of depth/space
-since they overlap you can't tell exactly how much space is between them
-if they were lined up in a row the illusion of depth would be gone

-by stacking the hands on top of each other the depth is hard to judge but the viewer knows that it is there as opposed to just one set of hands

Scale Confusion (35)

Scale Confusion
-the deliberate changing of natural scale is not unusual in painting
-some artists use scale changes intentionally to intrigue or mystify us rather than to clarify the focal point
-surrealism
-presentation of the irrational world of the dream or nightmare-recognizable elements in impossible situations




-the baby is in proportion to the hand but in reality a fully formed baby would not be the size of a human hand