Rules of Proportion, perspective and Realism

I have been instructing my art students to pay attention to the importance of proportions, perspective and their rules. How, very simple:

Applying the rules of proportions; as we can work so well with a small dimension painting we too do the same on a larger painting! There is no reason to panic. All what it needs is applying the rules of proportions. These rules are not only applied on figures nor only on shapes but also on tones! In another words, when we apply shadows or lights, on a small painting, with certain proportions, certain shapes and certain tones, then we would watch for the proper proportions related to the bigger dimension painting. This is what I call it the artistic or visual math. Constantly, artistic math is required in the realistic style. Realism is not about the ability to copying a photo. Rather you can mix and match your own different photos to create a new composition. Having even hundreds of cabinets full of photos, slides, and negatives is one thing and using them, when and how, is another story. How many times we can be looking at something or someone yet, we are not actually seeing them. Realistic painting is the outcome of profound calculations of real objects seen, personal observation, reflective feelings, intellectual interpretation/new ideas, watching direction of light, angle of light, the exposed shape whether to light or to shadow. The more objects distance from us the smaller and lighter proportions of tones we would see. I would like to add that the proportions of the passion and the patience we have, will also contribute to another factor and to a different result.

Applying the rules of perspective; without obtaining the knowledge of perspective an artist can work with any other style but realism. However, if we wish to talk realistically, we can’t afford it to be out of focus. Having a real meal with unreal food, we will be asking for a plastic health. Painting realistically without perspective, will invite many criticisms. Doing anything in life without seeing it in perspective is a waste of time and with no result. Even thinking about any matter in life we need to see it in the right perspective. What is perspective? It is the focusing on the most important object to see it clearly and setting priorities. Perspective is the perception of certain goals. And as the object takes less importance or value will be vanishing, evaporating from us as a second or third position. Perspective is a mathematical visual observation and penetrates in everything we see and draw. Perspective is an enjoyable subject to learn about, guaranteed, will increase our brain cells. Yes, learning it is a brain exercise. It may seams complicated at first but once we learn the first rule which is one vanishing point, we will find it irresistible to learn even more which are three vanishing points. We can learn it with the actual measurements or understand its rules and build up gradually. You can have a personal exercise by trying to draw a one-side box (one square) going to one vanishing point. Change the position of the vanishing point up and down, farer or nearer and watch how the shape of the one side box will change. Then try same exercise with two-side box (two squares) going to two vanishing points and apply as mentioned previously. Your next exercise can be stairs going to a door. Although, it sounds as if it needed one vanishing point but actually it needs two vanishing points. Also manipulating proportions of tones in relation to perspective will create a realistic painting.

Reaching realism style professionally, takes hard but enjoyable work. Visualizing a painting in our minds, prior to working on that huge empty canvas, will expand our passions. Creating a movable and a lively painting requires imparting freely, our inner feelings which were nourished earlier to painting. And having true love and passion for what we do is the treasure key that would pay off more than any material gains.

Mona Youssef - Realist fine artist