Front and back in a picture — Art, 4–6 years
Artists place things in front or behind to show where they are. Art, 4–6 years.
Things can be in front or behind
In a picture, an object near the bottom can seem close to us, and an object higher up can seem farther away. If one thing covers part of another, we understand that it is in front. Artists use these clues to make a flat page show a place.
Why this helps
A drawing has a flat surface, but we often want it to show a whole room, garden or street. Without front and back, everything may look like it is standing in one row. Placing objects carefully helps the viewer understand the space and what is nearest.
A cat in a garden
Draw a large cat near the bottom of the page. Draw a smaller tree behind it, and let the cat cover the tree’s lower trunk. Add a small house higher up. The covered trunk and the sizes help us read the cat as near, the tree behind it, and the house farther away.
Higher does not mean in the sky
A common first drawing puts every object along the bottom, because that is where things stand on the ground. It is also tempting to put a faraway tree at the top, as if it were flying. On a picture, moving something higher can simply show that it is farther away.
Maps, books and photographs
Picture-book artists use front and back so we can follow a scene. In a map or a photograph, one object may hide part of another and show what is nearer. The same idea helps us look at a busy picture without losing track of where things are.
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