My art can generally be classified by these basic themes: geometry, symbols, machines, structures, science fiction and perspective. In this blog post, I will address one of my favorite themes: perspective. In these drawings, I have attempted to use perspective to create an imaginary space where objects and structures exist. When I create these drawings, I am able to visualize these artificial spaces and they become tangible, real places. The objects and structures become three dimensional and they exist in their own unique environment. Here are several examples of drawings utilizing perspective.
This is called “Rendezvous”. This is my first perspective drawing. The image contains a mothership surrounded by small helper crafts hovering over an infinite plane in space. Visual imagery from 2001 a Space Odyssey and Tron were sources of inspiration for this drawing. Using trial and error I was able to construct a simple method for portraying depth that I have been able to reuse in other newer drawings. This image has two vanishing points. The spacecraft structure and the infinite plane recede into the first vanishing point in the center of the canvas. The open portal leading to unseen depths is the second. In the background is infinite black space. There are undesirable linear artifacts in this background that are the result of an alignment grid created during the drafting process.
This drawing is called “Horizon”. The construction of this piece is almost identical to Rendezvous. Here I have reused the infinite receding plain and added a mirror image of the plain to create the illusion that the spacecraft is contained inside of some vast structure. Also, I was not completely satisfied with the original design of the mothership, so I have completely redesigned the spacecraft to appear as a tangible object.
This drawing is called “Arrival”. In this drawing, I have reused the design for the mothership spacecraft. I have also reused the design for the infinite receding plane. It has been reconstructed to appear as an edge for a very large structure with infinite black space in the background. In this drawing, I was able to eliminate the linear artifacts visible in “Rendezvous”. The result is a much more uniform silken texture created by ultra-fine cross-hatching. This drawing is titled “Inner Station”
This drawing is titled “Inner Station”. The spacecraft is almost identical to the mothership in Arrival. I have also reused the design for an infinite receding plane. However, this drawing has vertical and horizontal planes with a black void in the vanishing point. The craft also appears to be inside of some very large structure.
This drawing is called “Labyrinth”. The receding planes are replaced with structures. This image three vanishing points which are located outside of the canvas space. To create the drawing, I attached three sheets of 14″ x 17″ paper behind the page on which the original is being constructed. One on each of the top corners and one at the bottom. The vanishing points were plotted on these pages and serve as axes for the structure. Once the axes were created on the image canvas, the sheets were removed. One of my favorite works of art by M.C Escher was the source of inspiration for this design.
This is “Station 51”. Here I have reused the same vertical and horizontal infinite receding plane with integrated structures. Several practice drawings were required and I was never completely satisfied with the result.
This drawing is called “Power Station”. This image contains a large structure in the foreground with a single infinite receding plane in the background. Unlike the previous drawings, the edge of the receding plane is not visible. The vanishing points are located outside of the canvas space.
All of these drawings are experiments that required extensive practice drawings in pencil. I enjoy working with perspective because I can create an visually engaging, artificial space that actually exists in my imagination.