So then picking up where I left off...
How then can one possibly put any of this to use? Talking about stuff is fine and dandy... but if one can't actually use it...
So far I mentioned, how one can use it when displaying one's tree... whether it be at a show, a photograph, or even just sitting on your benches.
Then, I began to show how through styling of one's tree, you can also effect the perspective just by placement of branching and foliage.
Now, I want to examine how one can use it to help with the layout of the styling of a tree. Before I do, I would like to touch on one thing... that being that all of this is merely fundamentals of how things work... A guide if you will, to help with establishing one's Art. It should not be taken as necessarily as a requirement of what needs to be done... So, in the end "What LOOKS GOOD" will always trump all of what we are discussing. Yet, one will find that often using and working within these fundamentals of Art, in this case it being Perspective... that they will often assist, and work quite well in helping one establish their art!
With that said... lets see how one can use it to lay out the design.
In my previous post just before this one, I mentioned how one might be able to establish a Horizon Line, or Eyeline with a piece of material. It is determined by the viewer's Eye Line. Their Eye Line determined by their Height. ie. 6 ft.
Next, we would want to determine how big of a tree one hopes to make with a piece of material. Often, this will be determined by the trunks diameter, as well as one's view of what they see for the potential tree out of the piece of material. So, if one has a thin trunk, do they want to make it really short, as in a sumo, which has a very masculine feel. A more normal size tree in which the trunk to height ratio is relevant, or does one want a feeling of the tree being tall and lean, and perhaps more feminine. What ever one decides, is their choice, however... it will determine where one would want the viewer's Horizon, or Eye Line to end up being on the trunk. When one establishes at what height they would like to then see this at. One then would need to establish a point at this height in which one would like to build their design off of. This is the "Perspective Point", that we discussed earlier. This point will allow one to draw imaginary radiating lines out in all directions, and will help establish what or how in theory an branch could be styled to work within the parameters of the tree's perspective.
Now, I know this sounds confusing... but it is rather simple, we will show how it works in one moment. As to why one might want to do this... Earlier, we established how perspective, helps to add depth, so this is one reason... But, most importantly, when and where ever one is able to design their tree with perspective in mind... it does one really cool thing. It actually tells the viewer at exactly what height the tree is meant to be viewed at. Seeing as we just mentioned, we have established a "Perspective Point" on the trunk, where every thing is built off of and everything points back to. Also, seeing that the human mind likes regularity, this will also help to establish a harmony within the tree, seeing that in every day life our eyes see in perspective.
Sounds crazy... I know, but let's take a look!
In the following image one sees a deciduous tree. The foliage has been removed so one can more easily see the structure of the trunk and branching. One also on either side of the tree sees a line. This is our horizon line. This is where we want our viewer's Eye Line to end up. Now if one looks in the middle of the trunk at this Horizon Line, one will see a Black Dot. This is our "Perspective Point" that we have established. So, when designing our tree... we would want to line up as much as possible with this point, if we wanted to design our tree with perspective in mind.
Now in the following picture we will insert over the top of the tree the "Vanishing Point Lines", which are imaginary lines that would radiate out from this point, and would show what direction any thing coming into contact with them would need to follow in order to be "In Perspective". So, perhaps we might want to design, or place a branch or foliage pad with this in mind. The more "Parallel" one could match a branch or foliage, the more it is going to show off the perspective.
Here is the picture with the Horizon Line, The Vanishing Point, and the Vanishing Point Lines.
You will see, that with this tree, we are able for the most part, to really line them up! If one follows the Orange lines out from the center, you will see that allot of the branching really does match up almost perfectly. And all of this branching points right back down to where the Perspective Point is, and thus our Horizon Line.
Wanted to mention one other thing... I will not be discussing this in this thread, but will in another at a future point. But, often in really good art, an artist will actually establish and set up "Pointing Lines". What are these "Pointing Lines"? Often one might want to establish a focal point. A point in which one wants their viewer to look at and pay attention too... So, the artist will actually create within the art lines that act like arrows and point in a direction. Sometimes these lines can be an actual line within the art, in this case a branch, or perhaps a jin, or even a foliage pad. Other times these lines, might be more of a suggested line, as in a group of foliage pads pointing in one direction, a shaping of foliage, shadows that are created within the tree, etc. None the less, the goal is to try and make a viewer, look at a particular point, whether they know it or not. So, if one has a really cool feature of dead wood, perhaps they might want to work in some arrows pointing to it, to say look at me!
In the case of designing a tree with perspective in mind... The previous image and it's branching help point to where the Vanishing Point is, and thus where the Horizon Line is. So, one can see, as I previously mentioned... That this is where then one is suppose to view the tree at. Why, because we have established arrows, "Pointing Lines" to it. If one views the tree from this Horizon Line, the tree will appear to be very well balanced, and in Harmony.
Let's look at some more...
In the following picture, one will see a cascading tree. Now often to help establish that the tree is "Cascading" one would want to put the Horizon Line, or Eye Line lower than the actual rim of the pot. Because it is cascading, we want to give the feel of the tree being somewhat beneath us... But not so beneath us that it feels small. So, as one will see, in the following picture, by establishing the Horizon Line lower than the rim of the pot, it puts what is above the rim of the pot, in this case a bending down trunk and exposed roots, above the viewer's Eye Line, giving them an appearance of being taller. In this case the Emotional view this gives, is that it makes this section appear heavy, and thus gives a feel of being "Grounded", or "Stable", "Secure"... Which is the feeling one wants to give with a cascade. We don't want the tree to feel like it could fall off the side of a mountain at any time. Who knows? Perhaps one does? If so, then one might ant to consider how the tree is viewed, and designed...
One more thing I would like to add... often with a tree that is very one sided as this tree is... one will find it better to establish the actual "Perspective Point" not actually on the trunk, but perhaps instead out in space, beside the trunk. The main reasoning for doing so would be that if one has a tree that is very heavy to one side or the other, placing the perspective point off to the side, helps more to determined the center of the overall composition. In this case, seeing the pot comes into view of the design of the tree, it would be then considered, part of the overall composition. Seeing that the two are interacting and competing for the same space. Establishing the Perspective Point where we have, to the left of the pot and lower than the rim, helps establish balance, and thus harmony. Think of a fulcrum point.
Now, if we examine the Emotional side, and say this placement gives Harmony, and Balance to the composition. If the goal was to create just the opposite... one might want to move the perceptive point to either the left, or the right of where we have it. Careful consideration, however must be taken into account of what feeling it then gives the viewer, and if this is what you as the artist want to portray.
Here is the picture of the cascading tree.
And here is the picture with the Perspective Point Line, radiating outwards, from the chosen point.
Again, one can see, that in all actuality, here to we are able to design a tree that is not only cool to look at, but also, still manages to work with the perspective. What is cool here, is that the Perspective Point Lines, all point back to the space between the pot and the tree. As I mentioned before... the place where the two are competing for the same space.
Will continue later...
