Imagine a painting is like a cookie. If it has edges, like the sides of a cookie, it feels framed. But if it’s round or wobbly, like a blob of goo, it looks more unframed. Artists use tricks to help our eyes see if something is framed or not.
Examples
- A drawing of a cat that has neat edges feels like it's in a frame, while one with messy lines looks like it was just drawn on paper.
- A painting of the sky that fades into white feels unframed, but if it has a dark border around it, it looks framed.
- A portrait with sharp outlines seems like it’s hanging on a wall with a frame, but one without edges feels more like it's just floating.
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See also
- What Makes a ‘Good’ Painting Stand Out?
- Why Do Artists Use Color Theory?
- Why Do Artists Use Color in Strange Ways?
- What Makes a Painting Look Like It's Moving?
- How Do Paintings Last for Centuries?
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