Graphite Pencil Drawing: Atmospheric Perspective

James Frederick: Stearman (graphite on paper) Smithsonian
James Frederick: Stearman (graphite on paper) Smithsonian

If you notice, the effect of distance and atmosphere has been carefully considered in James Frederick’s graphite pencil drawing, Stearman.

It is very important to artist to capture the atmospheric perspective in their drawing details. Crisp dark lines should lighten to show the apparent diminution in the size of objects as they recede in the distance.

The plane is the focal point of the drawing, but if you will note the artist showed the ground below to the right of the picture at a darker value and lightened his strokes to the left of the painting. This would be the depiction from the point of the viewers eye which is raised and to the right. By doing this Mr. Frederick gives the sense that the plane is flying and the ground to the left is disappearing out of the drawing. These are very important details that an artist needs to be aware of and keep in mind when he is drawing.

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