Silverpoint

The depth stack

Depth built from overlapping planes: five layers from foreground to sky, each overlapping the one behind, each lighter and softer, with sizes shrinking5 · sky4 · far hills3 · middle2 · near field1 · foregroundOverlap is the strongest depth cue there is. Make each plane clearly in front of thenext, then grade the values.Five planes is a landscape. Two is a backdrop.
FigureThe depth stack
FoundationLine + Mass

The depth stack

Five overlapping planes, after Roberts

Compose for depth by choosing a viewpoint that gives five overlapping planes, then grade them.

Difficulty
Time
about 1 h
You draw with
2H, HB, 2B, 4B
The depth stackAerial perspectiveThe three divisions of lightGrouping values

Why this one

  • Unit 6 of the program: Composition.
  • A drawing with undeniable depth made from overlap and value, with no two planes touching edge to edge.

From your kit

The whole kit →
  1. 1Grafwood 2H, HB, 2B, 4B 2H, HB for layout and line; 2B, 4B for the darks. Long points from the Blackwing on everything up to B.
  2. 2Kneaded eraser and the Mono Zero press-and-lift corrections only; the Mono Zero for a single sharp light.
  3. 3Alpha sketchbook 9 x 6 draw at the book's size and keep the proportions; date the page.
In general, this study asks for
  • Drawing pad
  • 2H, HB, 2B, 4B
  • A viewpoint or photo with layered depth

Watch first

All videos →

Broad charcoal masses and lifted lights; the closest thing on YouTube to a late Corot being made.

YouTube
Aerial perspective tutorialWindy Lampson · Five hills, five values, in graphite.Ville d'Avray, Entrance to the Wood: Corot at the Scottish National GalleryNL Cultural · A single late Corot looked at slowly; watch for the three divisions of light and the lost edges.

The plan

4 stages · ~65 min
  1. 1

    Read Constantinople

    20 min

    Foreground trees and walls, then houses, then the city, then the water, then the far shore: five planes, each clearly in front of the next, each a step lighter.

    Constantinople, Roberts, n.d.
    Art Institute of Chicago

    Roberts, Constantinople, n.d.. Graphite, heightened with lead white, on tan wove paper.

    David Roberts, Constantinople. Five overlapping planes stepping back.

    The Art Institute of Chicago · The Leonora Hall Gurley Memorial Collection

    Checklist0 / 1
  2. 2

    Find five

    20 min

    With the viewfinder, move until your subject gives you five overlaps: something in front of something in front of something. If it only gives three, move your feet or change the crop. Thumbnail it with each plane a distinct value.

    Depth built from overlapping planes: five layers from foreground to sky, each overlapping the one behind, each lighter and softer, with sizes shrinking5 · sky4 · far hills3 · middle2 · near field1 · foregroundOverlap is the strongest depth cue there is. Make each plane clearly in front of thenext, then grade the values.Five planes is a landscape. Two is a backdrop.
    FigureFive planes, each in front of the next.
    Checklist0 / 1
  3. 3

    Draw and grade

    20 min

    Full sheet. Lay the planes from the back forward, each overlapping the one behind, each darker and sharper than the one behind. Make each overlap unambiguous: the near thing clearly covers part of the far thing. Detail in the front plane only.

    Checklist0 / 1
  4. 4

    Self-check

    5 min

    Tick each item honestly. If one is a no, the session is not finished; go back to that step.

    Checklist0 / 3

What it should look like

  • A drawing with undeniable depth made from overlap and value, with no two planes touching edge to edge.

Where it goes wrong

  • Planes that touch without overlapping. Ambiguous depth. Shift something so it clearly covers part of what is behind it.

Log this session

Start the clock when you pick up the pencil. Stop it when you put it down. Log it. Every session counts toward the box.

00:00of ~60 min

Status

How did it go?

Up nextMaster copy I: Line