Chapter 11: Illusion of Motion

(1)                                                           Bijijoo.  "Still Life with Oprah, Eggplant, Squash, and a Balloon".  Oil on Panal.
                                                          13x15.  May 22, 2011.  Web. http://bijijoo.com/2011/still-life
                                                        -with-oprah-winfrey-eggplant-squash-and-a-balloon

We all know that it is not possible to capture true motion in a still.  However, artists and designers have been driven to capture the essence of motion since the dawn of art.  This is now seen as an illusion.  But as we all know illusions can be very real.  (insert evil laugh here)



Two areas that help create the illusion are Stillness and Arrested Motion.  Although they sound similar they are different in the way of stillness being much more natural.  An example would be a still life.  (1) Whereas, arrested motion is more human.  The human form cannot stand still for prolonged periods of time, so we have to adjust and this signifies the pause in motion.  (2)

(2)                                     KC.  "Monster Creeps; Layer 1".  Paint on Glass.
                                     August 1, 2011.  Web.  http://kaseytararuj.blogspot.com
                      /2011/08/1950s-ax-murderer.html

Four other ways to suggest motion in a visual design are:  Anticipated Movement (3),  Repeated Figure (4),  Blurred Outlines (5),  Multiple Image (6).

(4)           Muybridge, Eadweard.  "Horse Jumping".  Photo.
Hove Museum.  March 9, 2010.  Web.
http://ejmuybridge.wordpress.com/2010/02/

  

(3)        Wolfe, Megan.  "Birds in
Motion".  Oil on Wood Panal w/
palette and steak knives.  Feb.
13, 2012.  Web.  http://patronofthearts.com
/2012/02/reformation-movement-color/

(5)                                                                   "Pete Townhend, throwing his guitar in the air".  Photo.  Jan. 31, 1968.  Web.
                                                                 http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=59432&l=en

(6)                                                 Jim Abbott 1993 Upper Deck Fifth Anniversary Insert Card.  Web.
                                                 http://autographsforsale.com/jim-abbott-1993-upper-deck-5th-anniversary-insert-card.html

Other ways to create motion are more scientific.  These actually trick the restless eye into believing something is moving.  These involve Tapered and Undulating Lines (7), Flickering Effect of Afterimage, and the use of Intense Color.

(7)                  Pave'.  "Rug".  Silk Pile w/ cotton-
                  chenille weft.  Oct. 2008.  Web.
http://designawards.wordpress.com/2008/10/

(8)                Meyer, Glenn E.  "Effects on Flicker-induced
                  depth on chromatic subjective contours".  Aug. 1987
 Web.  http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.option
ToBuy&id=1987-33410-001