How to Create Space in Art with Value and Color

Artists face the challenge of bringing three-dimensional space to life on a two-dimensional canvas. And without the proper understanding of how to use color, value, and other crucial elements to create realistic space in art, the task becomes exceedingly more difficult.

However, by learning how to skillfully employ these elements, you can create the illusion of depth and distance, infusing your paintings and drawings with lifelike realism! Now even if your end goal is not to create a believable sense of space, its important to understand the ‘rules’ in order to break them. Let’s get started by looking at the powerful effect warm and cool colors can have in your art!

Cool colors recede in space, warm colors come forward

One of the most straightforward ways to create a sense of space and depth is to use warm and cool colors. In general, warm colors, such as reds, oranges, and yellows, tend to come forward and make an object feel closer to the viewer. Cool colors such as blues, purples, and greens tend to recede back in space. Keep this rule in mind when planning your artwork. Using warm colors for the foreground and cool colors for the background will create a sense of depth and space.

Example of Creating Space in Art with Cool and Warm Colors

Notice how color temperature creates space in the painting below. The foreground has relatively warm colors while the painting becomes gradually cooler until we reach the bluish cool temperature mountain in the background. It is the color temperature in the painting that helps to create this very real 3 dimensional sense of space.

However, like everything in painting colors and color temperatures are always relative. Something isn’t cool or warm unless it is ‘cooler’ or ‘warmer’ than the color it is next to. In other words a red could be cool if it is next to a warm red.

Soft edges recede back in space while sharp edges come forward

Edges play a crucial role in creating depth and space in art. A sharp edge will appear closer, while a soft edge will recede back in space. This rule is particularly important in all forms of painting, but can more easily be seen and understood in landscape painting.

For example, in the painting below we can see how the foreground area of the painting has very sharp edges. As your eye moves towards the background area of the painting the edges become much softer. The changes that we see in the edges are an integral part of the spatial depth we see in the painting.

The role of light and dark values in edges

Creating hard and soft edges is only possible by working with value. For example in the diagram below you can see how both colors are very similar in value and therefore we see a soft edge. On the right the red is much darker in value than the blue above and therefore there is a hard edge created between the two values/colors.

So, if you have two values that are very different – a light value next to a dark value – then you will have a hard edge. However, if you have two values that are very similar such as two light values next to one another or two dark values next to one another, then you will have a soft edge. You will notice this at work when viewing paintings.

Create space in art with atmospheric perspective

Atmospheric perspective is the effect of the atmosphere on the appearance of an object as its distance from the viewer increases. The further away objects are, the less saturated and lighter in value they appear. For example, in the painting below you can see how the mountains in the distance should appear lighter and less saturated than the ground in the foreground.

Light muted colors recede in space, saturated dark colors come forward

You can apply this to your own painting by lightening and muting colors in the distance. While keeping colors darker and more saturated in the foreground. This applies to all kinds of painting whether landscape, portrait, still life or completely abstract.

Use shadows to create space in art

Shadows are a powerful tool in creating depth and space in art. Shadows create contrast, which is what our eyes use to detect depth. Dark shadows on a lighter background will make an object appear closer, while lighter shadows on a darker background will make an object appear further away. Understanding how to use shadows in your art will help you create a sense of depth and distance.

Creating a sense of 3-dimensional space through color and value is a crucial skill for every artist and painter. By using warm and cool colors, soft and sharp edges, atmospheric perspective, value, and shadows, you can create a lifelike and believable artwork that captures the depth and distance of real-life scenes. Keep these tips and tricks in mind the next time you sit down to create, and see your paintings and drawings come to life.

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