In art, depth refers to the perceived distance between the background and the foreground of a composition. It is a way of manipulating space, which is a key element in art that refers to the distance around and between subjects and aspects of a composition. Techniques that create the illusion of depth on a flat surface help your image look more three-dimensional and lifelike. Artists can use varying tools of perspective, lines, colors, and shading to create the illusion of space and give your landscape, portrait, or still life paintings an added layer of realness. 

There are many different ways artists can represent [space](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/space-in-art-explained) in a composition to give their work the illusion of depth. Here are some of the most popular and easy techniques to create the illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface. 

1. __Overlapping and layering__: Overlapping and layering the objects in your illustrations can help to create a sense of depth. With this technique, smaller, farther objects in the background are placed behind larger objects in the foreground, making them feel like they are a greater distance away from the viewer. 
2. __Size and detail__: The size of your objects or subjects can heavily contribute to the illusion of depth in your drawing. Smaller objects with less detail are perceived as being farther away. The smaller an object is, the farther away it is perceived to be. Distant objects are also lighter and have less detail than nearer objects, which are more saturated and detailed. 
3. __Shading and contrast__: The way that you shade and color your illustrations—like with [chiaroscuro](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chiaroscuro-in-art) or levels of saturation—can also contribute to a feeling of depth by showing your viewer where your light source is. Dark and warm colors will also seem much closer than lighter colors and cool colors, which are used to enhance the perception of distance in a work of art. 
4. __Aerial perspective__: Also known as atmospheric perspective, this technique uses value to create depth perception. [Value](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/value-in-art-explained) is one of the elements of art that dictates how light or dark a color appears. Whether you’re working with acrylic paints, watercolors, pastels, or graphite, a basic tonal shift in the value of a color can <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communicate","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communicate</a> light source, focal point, and depth. Objects that are close to the viewer will be more sharply defined, whereas objects in the distance will appear less detailed. 
5. __Linear perspective__: Linear perspective is another useful tool for creating depth. With a linear perspective drawing, two <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-parallelism' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-parallelism","linkCopy":"parallel","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>parallel</a> lines converge at a vanishing point on the horizon line, giving the illusion of distance in a seemingly infinite capacity. 
6. __Isometric perspective__: Isometric design represents three-dimensional perspective on a two-dimensional surface. Objects in an isometric drawing appear as vectors on an isometric grid in which vertical lines remain vertical and horizontal lines slope at an angle of 30 degrees. [Isometric](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/isometric-design-in-typography-explained) perspective shows the subjects and aspects of your composition tilted on a slight angle from the viewer’s point of view, showing subjects on a separate plane that follows the three-dimensional rules of depth. 

Grab the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and plumb the depths of your creativity with the help of modern artist Jeff Koons, abstract artist Futura, and stage designer Es Devlin. Our exclusive video lessons will teach you to do things like utilize color and scale, explore the beauty in everyday objects, and so much more.
Portraying depth in art refers to creating the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Artists can use a number of techniques to create depth in their compositions, some of which are simple and others that are more advanced.

Portraying depth in art refers to creating the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Artists can use a number of techniques to create depth in their compositions, some of which are simple and others that are more advanced. 


Guide to Using Depth in Art: 6 Techniques to Create Depth in Art

In art, depth refers to the perceived distance between the background and the foreground of a composition. It is a way of manipulating space, which is a key element in art that refers to the distance around and between subjects and aspects of a composition. Techniques that create the illusion of depth on a flat surface help your image look more three-dimensional and lifelike. Artists can use varying tools of perspective, lines, colors, and shading to create the illusion of space and give your landscape, portrait, or still life paintings an added layer of realness.

What Is Depth in Art?

There are many different ways artists can represent <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/space-in-art-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/space-in-art-explained","linkCopy":"space","category":null}'>space</a> in a composition to give their work the illusion of depth. Here are some of the most popular and easy techniques to create the illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Overlapping and layering: Overlapping and layering the objects in your illustrations can help to create a sense of depth. With this technique, smaller, farther objects in the background are placed behind larger objects in the foreground, making them feel like they are a greater distance away from the viewer. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Size and detail: The size of your objects or subjects can heavily contribute to the illusion of depth in your drawing. Smaller objects with less detail are perceived as being farther away. The smaller an object is, the farther away it is perceived to be. Distant objects are also lighter and have less detail than nearer objects, which are more saturated and detailed. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Shading and contrast: The way that you shade and color your illustrations—like with <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chiaroscuro-in-art' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chiaroscuro-in-art","linkCopy":"chiaroscuro","category":null}'>chiaroscuro</a> or levels of saturation—can also contribute to a feeling of depth by showing your viewer where your light source is. Dark and warm colors will also seem much closer than lighter colors and cool colors, which are used to enhance the perception of distance in a work of art. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Aerial perspective: Also known as atmospheric perspective, this technique uses value to create depth perception. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/value-in-art-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/value-in-art-explained","linkCopy":"Value","category":null}'>Value</a> is one of the elements of art that dictates how light or dark a color appears. Whether you’re working with acrylic paints, watercolors, pastels, or graphite, a basic tonal shift in the value of a color can <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communicate","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communicate</a> light source, focal point, and depth. Objects that are close to the viewer will be more sharply defined, whereas objects in the distance will appear less detailed. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Linear perspective: Linear perspective is another useful tool for creating depth. With a linear perspective drawing, two <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-parallelism' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-parallelism","linkCopy":"parallel","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>parallel</a> lines converge at a vanishing point on the horizon line, giving the illusion of distance in a seemingly infinite capacity. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Isometric perspective: Isometric design represents three-dimensional perspective on a two-dimensional surface. Objects in an isometric drawing appear as vectors on an isometric grid in which vertical lines remain vertical and horizontal lines slope at an angle of 30 degrees. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/isometric-design-in-typography-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/isometric-design-in-typography-explained","linkCopy":"Isometric","category":null}'>Isometric</a> perspective shows the subjects and aspects of your composition tilted on a slight angle from the viewer’s point of view, showing subjects on a separate plane that follows the three-dimensional rules of depth. </li></ol>

6 Techniques to Create Depth in Art

Grab the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and plumb the depths of your creativity with the help of modern artist Jeff Koons, abstract artist Futura, and stage designer Es Devlin. Our exclusive video lessons will teach you to do things like utilize color and scale, explore the beauty in everyday objects, and so much more.

Ready to Tap Into Your Artistic Abilities?

Portraying depth in art refers to creating the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Artists can use a number of techniques to create depth in their compositions, some of which are simple and others that are more advanced.