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The Pocket Universal Principles of Art
book

The Pocket Universal Principles of Art

by John A Parks
December 2017
Intermediate to advanced content levelIntermediate to advanced
208 pages
3h 39m
English
Rockport Publishers
Content preview from The Pocket Universal Principles of Art

050 Mass

In art, the term “mass” describes a perceived quality of solidity and weight combined with a sense of volume. Rodin’s sculpture of Balzac (opposite) depends on the concentrated mass in the upper half combined with the upward lift of the overlarge head. We get an impression of weightiness increasing as we move up the body, so that at last the great forehead and its piercing intelligence take center stage.

In painting, a sense of mass can be increased by a number of devices:

• A low viewpoint tends to increase the sense of scale and weight.

• Powerful contrast and the use of “key” lights can enhance a sense of volume and weight.

• Some colors inherently contribute to a sense of mass: browns, blacks, and deep reds. Lighter colors tend ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781631595431