Acrylic Painting Step by Step

Creating Depth

There are a few tricks to creating the illusion of depth on a one-dimensional canvas. In addition to following the rules of linear perspective (discussed on pages 40 and 42), you can also apply atmospheric perspective to successfully suggest three-dimensional space. This principle refers to the fact that objects in the distance appear less distinct and bluer in color than nearer objects do; this is because particles (such as moisture and dust) in the air block out certain wavelengths of light. As a result, objects in the foreground appear brighter in color and have more detail, whereas objects farther away are more muted and less detailed. When you apply this basic principle to your painting, you can effectively achieve the impression ...