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amaranth · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2002 12:25 pm

Hi, I'm a newbie artist and am having trouble showing distance in my art. For instance, the river in this picture looks off to me, but I'm not sure what to do about it. Any help would be wonderful Smile

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Inspector Lee · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2002 2:37 pm

Looks like you're having perspective problems for a start. Your buildings are vanishing to points on several different horizon lines (not possible if the buildings are strait and level). The link below is a sketch I did for someone on an earlier post that explains vanishing points and horizon lines. If it's still confusing, post here again and I'll see if I can do a quick sketch.
Another thing that helps create the illusion of distance, is reducing the contrast as you move back in space. You do this by darkening your light colors, and lightening your darker colors as they receed. I noticed you did lighten the grass as it moves back in space. I'd exaggerate that even more. I'd even make the contrast on your middle ground building be noticeably less than the contrast on your foreground building. See how the road and the water have the same level of contrast with the grass in the forground as in the distance? That destroys the illusion of distance. Hope this helps
http://forums.sijun.com/viewtopic.php?t=30044
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amaranth · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2002 5:51 pm

Thanks Lee! I've lined up my buildings against the horizon line in the picture above. If I have missed anything, advice would be wonderful. My 'perspective' eye still needs work.
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Inspector Lee · Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2002 10:44 pm

I like the improvements. It's starting to feel much more spacious already. I think the river still looks strange because it doesn't look natural. In nature water seeks the lowest ground. This means that rivers and streams generally meander and wind their way in the creases and ruts between hills rather than straight across flat land or in a straight line between two hills. Keep up the good work.
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Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

amaranth · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2002 5:19 pm

Well, I've attempted to add the law of physics to my river and path. This has made an extensive difference in the picture. I also darkened the sky to offset the other colors in the painting, including the lights in the far cottage. However, I have just noticed that my pesky sign is at a crazy angle...
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Inspector Lee · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2002 10:16 am

Nice improvements. Sorry I was a little unclear, but that general "rule of thumb" about darkening the lighter colors as they move back in space doesn't apply to the sky. Daylight skies usually get lighter towards the horizon. And I liked your lighter sky better, but all the other changes look great. It has much more sense of space than before. Great job!
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Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

Chthonic Divinity · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2002 7:44 pm

the details in the houses are stellar, i especially love the left house... however, i think your piece is missing something. It seems cartoonish. I believe this is due to 2 things. Color and lighting. The colors are very flat and cartoonish. Even though something might look green, or brown, there might be all sorts of different colors. Its kind of hard to appreciate until you really take notice of it.... like while doing pointalism Confused

Also with the lighting, having the orange from inside the home glow and cast a light on the grass would be nice. Houses could use shadowing on the ground too. You could also use more contrast and variety overall, especialy the grass. Work on your sky/clowds too
Heh this is all easy for me to say but i know its difficult to actually do. This piece is much better than anything i do. But im just trying to offer my 2 cents, and possibly help out. Either way, its really good, i look forward to more

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2002 2:32 pm

Okay, I reckon your image is bth wicked cool and super ckrewed up, IMHO, no offence.

I am a super noob so my opinon almost certainly counts for nothing.
Nevertheless, I tried to fix all the weirdnesses in my crude way, and IMHO my version also looks super screwed up, all the same, I think it's a little imporved in some areas. I am frustrated that I am unable to see what is wrong with it all though I know I't something to do wth the perspective, horizon height etc. of the first house in particular. Sorry if my criticisms are too harsh, just ignore me Wink

Heck -- I have no idea!

You need a pro to help IMHO. It looks to me like each elemnt of the picture is working to a different set of rules... *shrug*

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2002 3:03 pm

This has called me quite allot of trouble this pic. Thankyou, becuase you've presnted me with a challenge which has highlighted to me just how mch of a noob I really am. If I were to do it it would be more like:

And this is why I say you have higlighted my noobishness t me, so thanks.
I'll give up on this challenge now -- I'll attack it another day Smile

sorry for all my blaba