Drawing & Painting Concepts


Atmospheric Perspective

Atmospheric Perspective

A typical day in central Pennsylvania with high humidity which creates easily viewable atmospheric perspective.

The use of lighter and lighter contour lines creates atmospheric perspective in this work.

An architectural concept drawing by Hugh Ferriss.

Atmospheric perspective can be used to create depth inside as well as outside.

Atmospheric perspective can even be used to create depth over short distances (from nose to ears).

Drawing by Adam Day of the LHU campus along Ivy Lane
(showing two buildings that are no longer present), 2005, charcoal on paper 18 x 24 inches.

Still-life drawing by Adam Day, 2005, charcoal on paper, 18 x 24 inches.

St. Paul's Cathedral, London, wood engraving.

Concept Art for Rogue One. Notice how the running figures are rendered in lighter and lighter values with less contrast as they get smaller to indicate that they are farther away. This image can be downloaded to view at larger resolution. Also notice how dark the ship is just above their heads whereas the ship further away is a lighter blue.

Digital Image created by Chinese artist Ruan Jia.
Notice the use of lower contrast and lighter value on the dragon in the upper portion of the image to cause it to appear farther away. Notice the use of darker values and higher contrast on the figures in the lower third of the image. This helps them to appear closer.

Albert Bierstadt, Merced River, Yosemite Valley, 1866, oil on canvas, 36 x 50 inches, Metroplitan Museum of Art.

Jakub Różalski, Krampus and Santa

A downloadable handout on atmospheric perspective in PDF