Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you? I hope you're feeling great today.

My name's Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm so happy about that because I love teaching art.

Today we're looking at something really important in art.

It's in fact, it's a key principle of art, which is depth.

I wonder if you've considered depth in artworks before.

Don't worry whether you have or not.

Today, you're gonna be getting right into it.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work, The principles of art.

So if you are ready, got some enthusiasm, openness, and curiosity, let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is, "I can use a range of methods to create depth in my artwork." We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

Depth, foreground, and atmospheric perspective.

So what do these words mean? Depth is the distance between the background and the front of an image.

Foreground is the area at the front of the picture space.

And atmospheric perspective replicates how your eye sees a scene with more colour and detail towards the front.

These are our keywords, depth, foreground, and atmospheric perspective.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called Principles of art: depth, and it consists of two learning cycles.

First of all, we have understand the methods artists use to create depth and then assemble a collage to create depth.

Sounds fun.

Let's begin with understanding the methods artists use to create depth.

And let's take a little look into the future at what your outcome might look like, possibly something like this.

Pretty incredible.

Effective in terms of displaying depth, I'd say.

Artists can make work look more realistic and give the illusion of space receding into the canvas by creating depth.

Pause the video and share with someone in this image that we can see what is in the background, what's in the middle ground, and what's in the foreground.

Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you noticed that the blue there is the background, the green is the middle ground, and the yeast extract at the front, which you people either love or hate, is the foreground.

I quite like it.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Depth makes an image look 2D.

Pause the video and decide, is this statement true or false? Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

"Depth describes how far an image recedes into the distance.

Adding depth creates the illusion of three dimensions." So depth makes an image look 3D rather than 2D.

Depth makes us feel like we could step into a painting and enter the scene.

Artworks that create depth in their work include Eugene Boudin's painting "Berck, Cloudy landscape," makes use of atmospheric perspective to present depth without vanishing points, Paula Rego's "The Dance," 1988, uses movement and space to create a sense of depth and perspective, making her composition feel layered and dynamic, Emma Prempeh's "Steal The Rum Cake From the Kitchen," 2023, great title, creates overlapping figures with details fading into softer tones to create depth and the illusion of space.

Artists use a range of methods to create depth, and we can see some artworks here capturing a sense of depth.

How has the artist created depth in this collage? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Artists can create depth using perspective, atmospheric perspective, overlapping and layering, size and detail, colour.

Atmospheric perspective is a method used by artists to create the illusion of depth.

Things that are far away look lighter, less detailed, and sometimes bluish or hazy.

Atmospheric perspective helps make a scene look more realistic because our eyes see distant objects in this way in real life.

Pause the video and share with someone your impressions of atmospheric perspective in this artwork.

Thanks for sharing.

I think this artwork's really done a great job with the atmospheric perspective, as that background's really looking very hazy and bluish, and that's the way we'd see a mountain like that in real life amidst the clouds.

Perspective is another method used by artists to create depth.

Perspective is a drawing method where objects get smaller and closer together as they go into the distance.

Utilising perspective helps to make a picture look more realistic and 3D.

Pause a video and share with someone what are some of the objects that you can see looking smaller and closer together in a distance, and what are some objects that you can see looking larger and spaced further apart in the foreground? Thanks for sharing your perspective on perspective.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Match the term to its definition.

So our terms are perspective, atmospheric perspective, and foreground.

And the definitions are far away elements are light and less detailed, objects get smaller as they go into the distance, and the area at the front of the picture space.

So pause here while you match each term to its definition.

Okay, perhaps you match the terms and definitions in this way.

So perspective is when objects get smaller as they go into the distance.

Atmospheric perspective is far away elements are light and less detailed.

And the foreground is the area at the front of the picture space.

Well done for matching the terms and definitions in this way.

Overlapping and layering create a sense of depth.

Objects on the top of others appear in the foreground.

And objects in the background are placed behind objects in the foreground.

When drawing, overlapping creates the illusion of distance.

Size and detail are used by artists to create depth.

Oh, I'm noticing I'm so drawn to this image.

Smaller, lighter, and less detailed objects appear to be further away.

Our eyes will focus on the detail in front of us while the rest of the scene becomes less focused.

Photographers often experiment with size and detail.

We see this in photographs with a soft focus.

Photographers use the term depth of field to describe how much of the image is in focus, not blurry.

Pause the video and share with someone what is sharply in focus in this photograph and what has a softer focus.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

How could you create depth using layering and different sizes of objects? Is it A, make all objects the same size, B, use larger objects in the background and smaller objects in the foreground, or C, overlap and make closer objects larger? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected C, indeed, overlapping objects and making closer objects larger, and objects further away smaller, helps to create depth.

Which colours advance come forwards and which recede backwards? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here's Sofia.

"The blues sit back and the reds jump out." And Jacob, "The brighter and more vibrant colour stands out.

The muted or pale colours recede back in space." Colour can be manipulated to create depth.

To emphasise the depth, you can use brighter, warmer, and deeper colours for closer elements.

Gradually make colours lighter and use cooler tones as objects recede into the distance.

We can see a great example of that in this artwork.

Is there depth in this abstract artwork? Pause a video and share with someone.

Here's Laura's response.

"Yes, I think the white space is the background and the black lines overlap it, so they must be in the foreground.

The red jumps forward and the blue recedes back." Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Depth can only be created in realistic images using perspective.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done If you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

"Depth describes how far an image recedes into the distance.

Depth can be created using a number of methods in realistic and abstract artworks." And now it's time for your first task.

I'd like you to compare and contrast the methods used to create depth in two different artworks.

Consider perspective, atmospheric perspective, overlapping and layering, size and detail, colour.

You may choose to discuss, annotate around an image, or write short sentences.

So pause here while you have a go at this task.

So how did you get on with your task? You might have said something like this.

Here's Andeep.

"I can feel the depth of space in this painting as the table recedes due to perspective.

It has a background that is pale and loose and more defined detail in the sharper objects on the table.

Some things are placed behind others." Great noticing.

And here's Sam.

"This abstract image still presents a type of depth, even if it doesn't represent a realistic space.

I find the diagonal lines project forward due to the colour and tone.

The light blue sits back partly as its pale and cool, and also because it is layered behind other objects." And now we're onto our next learning cycle, assemble a collage to create depth.

Aisha wants to create a collage to explore depth.

Alex is sharing some advice.

"Work through a process from the background to foreground and experiment with the options as you go along.

It's good to reflect on what's working well and what isn't." Sage words.

Artists can be playful with depth.

Examples include Juan Gris layered multiple viewpoints to create cubist works that distorted perspective and depth, Kehinde Wiley flattens the pictorial depth using complex patterns in the background behind his painted figures, Miranda Forrester cuts through the canvas and combines line work with more detail to experiment with depth, Holly Coulis creates a shallow, flattened, and layered depth in her lively, vibrant still life compositions, and Salman Toor uses perspective selectively, often employing a flat, stylized approach with simplified depth to focus on the emotional and narrative aspects of his scenes.

So we can see, there are a lot of artists being playful with depth.

Aisha is creating her collage.

She gathers a series of simple still life objects as inspiration and draws the outline.

She cuts out the shapes at different sizes and on different colours of paper.

Aisha explores a variety of background options.

A detailed pattern makes the background advance and stand out.

A cool colour in the background recedes.

A warm colour in the background stands out.

Aisha adds a contrasting table to give a sense of separation between background and foreground.

Moving the table line alters the horizon and the viewpoint, so many considerations.

Aisha then explores cutting the paper for the table at different angles.

Diagonal lines give the impression of perspective and depth.

Aisha assembles all of the elements.

Position and layering give the impression of distance.

Increasingly bigger objects overlap each other.

Shadows create relationships between objects in space.

And details are most pronounced in the foreground.

For the following task, you will need a pencil, scissors, glue, coloured papers, and cartridge paper for the base.

You might also consider using pattern papers or text.

So pause here while you gather everything you'll need for this task.

Okay, you've got everything you need.

How wonderful.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? A detailed pattern in the background of an image will stand out.

Pause the video and decide if this statement is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

Very detailed elements naturally stand out.

Using detail in the background will have the effect of reducing or distorting the depth.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to create outline shapes from paper.

So either select some objects to inspire simple outline shapes, or plan a series of organic and geometric shapes.

Next, draw the outlines at different sizes on different coloured or pattern paper.

And then carefully cut out the shapes following the outlines.

So pause here while you have a go at this first part of your task, creating outline shapes from paper.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with creating outline shapes from paper? Here's Aisha.

"I chose simple shapes and drew them face on.

I only drew the outline so I could cut them out in lots of colours." Fantastic.

And also I can see in different sizes as well.

Next, I would like you to experiment with different arrangements to create depth in a composition.

Create at least three different arrangements and remember not to glue down your pieces.

Aim to apply these methods, perspective, atmospheric perspective, overlapping and layering, size and detail, colour, and shading and tone.

So pause here while you have a go at this part of your task, experimenting with different arrangements to create depth in a composition.

I'll see you when you're finished.

So how did you get on with that task, experimenting of different arrangements to create depth in a composition? Here's Aisha.

"I experimented with lots of different arrangements and reflected on what I needed to change after each one." And now I would like you to assemble a collage to create depth.

Select your most successful composition and secure the pieces using glue.

Are there any refinements that you need to make before finalising your composition? Pause the video while you have a go at this part of your task, assembling a collage to create depth.

So how did you get on with assembling a collage to create depth? Here's Aisha.

"I created a collage using perspective, size, detail, shadows, colour, layering, and overlapping elements.

I chose this composition because the diagonal table and overlapping create depth.

I also added shading and details in the foreground to further create the illusion of depth." Well done, Aisha.

I think you did a great job there and really wonderful to hear about all those different elements that you used.

Pause here and now have a look at your own creation and share with each other what are the different elements that you have used in your collage to create depth, and share these with each other.

Thanks for sharing what helped to make your collage so successful at creating depth.

In our lesson, Principles of art: depth, we've covered the following.

Depth is the illusion of distance between a foreground and background of a composition on a flat surface.

There are several ways of creating depth in an image, such as atmospheric perspective, perspective, overlapping objects, altering size, adding or reducing detail, or using certain colours.

Shading and contrast can also be used to create an illusion of depth.

Well done, everyone, for taking part in this lesson.

It was wonderful to explore this really elemental principle of art, depth.

It can make such a difference to our artworks if we can bring in these different elements to support us to create depth.

I hope you've enjoyed exploring this subject together and creating your own collages.

And I hope you're pleased with what you've created and the ways in which you have used perspective and atmospheric perspective, overlapping, size, colour, and detail to create this wonderful artwork.

I'm really proud of how you got on in this lesson.

I hope you are too, and I hope you enjoyed it.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

In the meantime, stay creative.