LESSON 2
Our eyes naturally perceive depth, or distance. When looking out the window we understand that one tree is further away than the other is because the tree in front covers up a part of the tree behind it. It overlaps. To recreate this scene on a flat piece of paper artists create an illusion of depth by drawing only the parts that they see. In this work by Monet, the small boat is in full view. It overlaps the grassy hill. The grassy hill is in partial view, but it overlaps the ships sitting on the other side. The ships are in partial view only. Can you find other items that overlap?
Claude Monet, (1840-1926); Windmill at Zaandem , 1883 Charcoal on Paper. Photo Credit: Dover Publications Inc.
Study this work, observing how Monet handles charcoal. Light areas of the sky are lifted out from a middle gray background. Dark marks for grass are placed on top of the gray background. You will learn how to create middle gray backgrounds in the next technique lesson.
These objects overlap.
Ships Grassy Hill Small Boat
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