LIGHT AND VOLUME

How would you represent the light on an object, for example, on a cone?

INFLUENCE OF LIGHT IN SPATIAL PERCEPTION Light is a natural or artificial physical phenomenon that allows us to see and distinguish objects that surround us. When light shines on an object, it creates areas of light and shadow. If the light changes, the perception of the object changes as well.

TYPES OF LIGHT NATURAL LIGHT ARTIFICIAL LIGHT

NATURAL LIGHT How does natural light change? What factors have an influence on it?

NATURAL LIGHT Comes from the sun The tones change depending on ▫The time of day ▫The season of the year ▫The weather ▫The geographic location

ARTIFICIAL LIGHT How can we produce artificial light?

ARTIFICIAL LIGHT Produced by humans The sources have changed throughout history. ▫Fire (bonfire, torch, candlelight, lanterns) ▫Electricity (fluorescent lights, lamps, electric lanterns, flashlight) ▫LEDs

THE DIFFERENCE The biggest difference between the two types of light is that they produce distinct types of shadows. ▫Natural light produces parallel rays ▫Artificial light produces conic rays This is the reason why the shadows are different. Can you think of other differences?

FLUORESCENT Artificial light BAJO CONSUMO LIGHT BULB

LED BULB FIREWORKS

FLASHLIGHT (Am E) TORCH ( Br E) SODIUM LIGHTNING CANDLE LIGHT

DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF THE LIGHT SOURCE Front lighting Light from above Side lighting Backlighting

FRONT LIGHTING There is sensation of volume and depth is minimal.

LIGHT FROM ABOVE Gives us a sensation of tranquility. Gives us a sensation of reality because it is the type of lighting we are used to. Insert photos

SIDE LIGHTING Creates a sensation of mystery or drama Produces a high contrast between the illuminated area and mystery in the shaded area Johannes Vermeer Insert photos

BACKLIGHTING We can only see the background and the silouettes of the figures

Chiaroscuro Value describes volume and depth of space In Europe artists of the Renaissance were concerned with showing depth and volume in opposition to the artists of the Middle or “Dark Ages.” Men of the Renaissance considered their time period to be the Age of Reason and rebirth of artistic and mathematical achievements. Renaissance artists manufactured the term “Chiaroscuro” to describe how light and dark can imply depth and volume.

The word Chiaroscuro is a combination of two Italian words that mean light and dark. (chiaro (clear, light) + oscuro (obscure, dark) Atmospheric or Ariel perspective was one of the artistic strategies used in the study of Chiaroscuro during the Renaissance. (Atmospheric or Ariel perspective is covered in depth in the section “Objective Color Harmony”.)

Value Contrast Value contrast can be encountered in both colorful and non-colorful art renderings. All neutral tones (white, black, all gray tones) are called achromatic, meaning having no color. All tones that have some color are call chromatic. You must consider the relationship of value to other art elements, like color, line texture and shape. All these elements must exhibit some value contrast in order to remain visible.

Light and Shadow When a mass is exposed to light, a solid object will receive more light from one side than another when that side is closer to the light source. A spherical surface demonstrates this as an even flow tone from light to dark. An angular surface shows sudden contrast of light and dark.

Light Sources and Shadows A light projected onto an object or figure creates lights, darks, and cast shadows. Your source of light may be the sun, the moon, a light through a window or an artificial light. When several light sources are present the light and dark tones vary and are less predictable.

Two Kinds of Shadows Cast Shadow: when an object blocks a light source it casts a shadow. A cast shadow is not a solid shape but varies in tone and value. Form Shadow: A form shadow is the less defined dark side on an object not facing the light source. This shadow has softer less defined edges than a cast shadow.

THE LIGHT SIDE IN TWO PARTS Highlight: The lightest spot or streak is where the light strikes the subject in exactly the middle of the light side between the shadow edge and the edge of the object. A highlight can be shiny and crisp on a glass or metallic surface, or fuzzy and muted on a dull or textured surface. Light middle tones: To avoid confusion, “always” keep the values on the light side lighter than the values on the dark side.

Reflected light If the object being painted is sitting on a white table, the light from the table reflects back onto the object and makes the shadow side lighter.

Manet’s Painting, “The Railway” shows value contrast in composition, but the sense of shallow space is emphasized by a lack of a single light source.

What kind of lightning have these two images?

Notan Notan is a Japanese word meaning dark-light. The principle of Notan is the interaction between positive (light) and negative (dark) space. This interaction is confirmed by the ancient Chinese symbol of Yin and Yang.