How Do Artists Create Illusions on a Flat Canvas?

Artists use special tricks to make flat pictures look like real life. Imagine you're looking at a drawing of a street, it looks far away because the lines get smaller as they go further out, just like when you walk down a hallway. Artists also add shadows and light, so things look rounded or tall. These are all simple tricks that make your brain think the picture is moving and real.

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Examples

  1. A drawing of a street where the lines get closer together as they go further away
  2. Shadows added to a ball so it looks like it's rolling on paper
  3. Trees in the background drawn with softer edges and lighter colors

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