Demonstration Art

Perspective

Perspective in paintings is the creation of the illusion of a three dimensional space on a two dimensional (painted) surface. One of the principal techniques in Japanese art for achieving this kind of perspective is the use of different hues. Foreground objects receive the strongest colors, middle ground objects get slightly lighter hues, and background objects are painted with the lightest hues. The Japanese word for this technique is enkin-hō.

The use of linear perspective (toshi-gahō) to achieve a sense of depth; the convergence of lines, objects, etc. toward a vanishing point that was developed in the West during the Italian Renaissance; wasn't introduced to Japan until the middle of the Edo Period (1603 - 1867).

This week's demonstration painting, spring landscape (haru no fūkeiga), uses the enkin-hō technique. Something worth adding is that another common way to achieve a sense of depth is to place foreground objects at the bottom of the painting, middle ground objects in the middle, and background objects at or toward the top. My demonstration painting this week has foreground objects at the bottom, but there is one at the top right of the painting, too. This is a framing device to help focus attention on the primary point of interest, the castle in the middle ground.

Calligraphy

For those interested in practicing their calligraphy, here are some samples. The Japanese word for spring landscape is haru no fūkeiga. The first character below is haru (spring). Below that is fūkeiga.

This week's painting

Here is my demonstration painting.