Atmospheric Perspective
THE ILLUSION OF SPACE, PART 2
Have you ever wondered why a distant mountain appears blue when it’s actually covered in green trees or brown dirt? Or why things seem to “fade” into the distance? Believe it or not, the atmosphere isn’t completely translucent; air is full of particles such as dust and moisture that affect the way we see objects. The particles scatter short wavelengths of light (blue and violet), veiling objects in the distance with a cool, bluish hue. This optical effect, called “atmospheric” or “aerial perspective,” also subdues shadows and highlights, reducing the contrast of distant objects and rendering them less distinct. A subtle overall lightening of distant objects also occurs. And, of course, the more distant the object, the more obscured it becomes to our eyes. Factors like fog, haze, and pollution exaggerate this effect.
To suggest distance in a drawing or painting, it’s important to translate this form of perspective to your paper or canvas, particularly when working with landscapes. Render the most distant objects with low contrast, very little detail, and cool hues. For extra impact, contrast them with warmer, more saturated colors and sharp detail in the foreground. —ETG
In this landscape painting by Frank Serrano, the most obvious application of atmospheric perspective is in the cool hues of the mountains. But compare the dark, sharp shadows of the trees with those of the mountains, and note the warm, crisp orange flowers in the pasture foreground. Frank has successfully employed several aspects of this optical phenomenon.