Hello!
Today we'll explain a technique for adding depth to your artwork: "aerial perspective."
Incorporating this technique will give your pieces a real sense of expanse and make your expression even more compelling. Please read to the end.
What Is Aerial Perspective?
First, picture the two pieces above in your mind.
- A: A piece drawn crisply throughout
- B: A piece that gets blurrier further back
Which one looks like it stretches farther into the distance?
. . . . The answer is B.
Because the distance is blurred, it creates a sense of distance, letting you feel depth in the space. This is "aerial perspective."
Why Does the Distance Look Blurry?
Aerial perspective refers to the phenomenon where distant objects appear to change in color and contrast due to the effect of the air.
The farther away something is, the more layers of air its light passes through before reaching our eyes. Along the way, moisture and particles in the air scatter the light, changing how it appears.
4 Key Points of Aerial Perspective
There are 4 important points worth remembering about aerial perspective.
① Colors become paler
The farther away something is, the whiter and paler its color appears.
② Contrast becomes weaker
The difference between light and dark shrinks, giving an overall hazy impression.
③ A blue tint appears
Due to the effect of the air, distant objects take on a bluer tint.
④ Details disappear
Fine details are omitted, giving a simpler appearance.
How to Express It Through Coloring
So how do we actually express these 4 points through coloring?
- Lighten colors: mix in white or sky blue
- Weaken contrast: avoid coloring too dark, and keep the light/dark difference subtle
- Add blue or gray: add a touch more the farther back it is
- Reduce detail: cut down on information and keep it simple
Keeping these in mind lets you express natural depth.
In Practice: Using It in Your Coloring Pages
For example, imagine a composition with an animal or an egg in the foreground, trees or a house further back, and mountains or sky even farther beyond.
For the distant areas, keep the following in mind.
- Color the sky in a pale tone mixed with white
- Lower the saturation
- Weaken the contrast
- Add a touch of gray
- Skip fine detailing
Doing this naturally makes things look like they're farther away.
Tips for Making the Foreground Stand Out
By drawing the distance weakly, the foreground will naturally look stronger.
Keep the following in mind for the foreground.
- Deepen the colors
- Strengthen the contrast
- Add more detail
- Use more colors
This "contrast in intensity" is what creates the depth in your piece.
If You Want a Simple Way to Remember It
If this feels complicated, just remember this one phrase.
"Weak in the distance, strong up close."
Just this alone will make a striking difference in depth.
It's Not Just for Landscapes
Aerial perspective isn't a technique reserved for landscapes only.
You can use it for still-life pieces too, for example.
Even with the same flower motif, drawing the foreground flowers in detail and keeping the background flowers toned down and simple creates natural depth.
This technique also appears in traditional Japanese ukiyo-e prints.
By varying the level of detail and color strength between foreground and background, they express a sense of spatial expanse.
Summary
Aerial perspective is a fundamental technique that works with any subject.
The key point is simple.
- Distant areas: pale, weak, and simple
- Nearby areas: deep, strong, and detailed
Just keeping this in mind will dramatically change the impression of your work.
Be sure to try incorporating it into your next piece.