Teach Yourself Visually Drawing

Arrange and Light

Your Subject (continued)

Eye-Level Answers

Here the viewer is looking down into the jar; conse-

quently, your eye level is above the jar. Notice that you

can still see the pebbles only through the glass; you can-

not see them directly from the top, as the viewer is sit-

ting back from the jar, not leaning over the jar.

Eye Level

Now, the viewer is looking directly at the jar, just about

three-quarters of the way down the jar. You cannot see

down into the top of the jar. However, because the jar is

made of glass, you can see the back of the jar through

the front of it. Notice the bottom left side of the jar, and

see how it is arranged at a 45-degree angle. The angle is

less vertical, and more horizontal, than the same side of

the jar in the previous example.

Eye

Level

The viewer is looking slightly up at these objects. The

table is obscuring your view of the bottom of the

objects. You are unable to see the tops of the objects;

and they are visible only from the side. A small part of

the objects’ lids on the left are showing, but they are

very small. Notice that the lids are curving down slightly.

Eye Level

Here the viewer is sitting lower and farther back from the

objects. The eye level is lower, the table appears higher,

and the bottom portion of the objects is obscured by the

table. The curves of the lids are curving down more

noticeably than in the previous example. These differ-

ences are slight, but keen observation is an important

tool for an artist—you must practice it constantly.

Eye Level