Keys to Drawing – Chapter 5

Keys to Drawing - Exercise 5D
60 Minutes
29 October 2013
Graphite Pencil on Paper
37cm x 29cm (14.5" x 11.5")

Chapter 5 of Keys to Drawing is called The Illusion of Depth. This is another of the chapters I've been looking forward to because it deals with concepts that are not included in The Natural Way to Draw.

Keys to Drawing - Exercise 5A
60 Minutes
2 October 2013
Graphite Pencil on Paper
29.5cm x 40cm (11.5" x 15.75")

Bert Dodson starts the chapter by introducing four principles we can use to create a feeling of depth in a picture:

• Overlapping objects – when objects overlap, we perceive one of them as being in front of the other
• Diminishing size – objects that are further away from the viewer appear smaller
• Converging parallel lines (linear perspective) – parallel lines appear to converge and meet on the horizon 
• Softening edges and contrast (atmospheric perspective) – objects that are far away begin to blend into the background

If we include these devices in a picture, they provide the illusion of depth.

Keys to Drawing - Exercise 5B
60 Minutes
7 October 2013
Graphite Pencil on Paper
22cm x 34cm (8.5" x 13.5")

Bert continues by presenting the idea of drawing through objects as if they were transparent as a technique for experiencing the structure of an object and drawing it so that it appears convincingly 3-dimensional.

Keys to Drawing - Exercise 5C
60 Minutes
10 October 2013
Graphite Pencil on Paper
28m x 38cm (11" x 15")

The chapter finishes with a short, but succinct description of linear perspective. Dodson explains one-point and two-point perspective and even touches on three-point perspective.

Keys to Drawing - Exercise 5E
60 Minutes
4 November 2013
Graphite Pencil on Paper
28m x 39.5cm (11" x 15.5")

There are 6 exercises, all of which I found enjoyable, but challenging:

5A - creating the illusion of depth

5B - drawing through

5C - one-point perspective

5D - two-point perspective

5E - looking down on objects (three-point perspective)

5F – ellipses (circles in perspective)

Keys to Drawing - Exercise 5F
60 Minutes
7 November 2013
Graphite Pencil on Paper
25.5cm x 30.5cm (10" x 12")

I may need to redo exercises 5D and 5E because 5D is supposed to be a drawing of the corner of a house and 5E is supposed to be the view from a high window or balcony. I changed the subjects because it was cold and wet when I drew the picture for exercise 5D and I didn't have access to a suitably elevated viewpoint for exercise 5E. I drew exercise 5E perched on the edge of a kitchen worktop. This brought its own challenges, so I don’t feel too guilty.