As a sign painter I frequently have to remind myself to step back and look at what I’m doing from the proper distance. Since my nose is usually about 10 inches from the work (really must look into better glasses) I can see all the flaws, uneven color coverage and not-quite-straight lines. When I step back, even just a few feet, all of this goes away and what I’m working on magically looks the way I intended.
Proper viewing distance (ortho-stereoscopic position) is that point where you can take in the whole picture as it was intended to be seen. Not so close that the image is lost in the pixels, half-tone dots, or brush strokes. Not so distant that the details are lost. What that distance is depends greatly on what is being viewed. A billboard is designed to be viewed from hundreds of feet away. A miniature landscape should be seen up close and personal.
Proper viewing distance is something to keep in mind in many aspects of life. Perfection – or even tolerance – is strongly dependent on where the viewer is standing. Many of our judgments, positive and negative – are a product of our mental ortho-stereoscopic position. Carolyn Jones explores one example of this in her blog post Judgment of Others.
How many of the things that bother you could be resolved if they were looked at from a different distance? If you stepped back and looked from a broader perspective, or moved in closer and could appreciate the details?
this is so true Kerry, and we artists have to remember that while we are painting as you say. I often get hung up in the perfection of the pixels-so to speak, when what I need to focus on is the entire piece. Also true in life. Thanks for the reminder.
Cheryl
Thanks for the great perspective, Kerry.
As Georges Seurat said, ‘Originality depends only on the character of the drawing and the vision peculiar to each artist.’
~ Saucy Girl
As I was reading your blog I started thinking what if we used this approach more in our day-to-day life, and then lo & behold, you made that exact point. Great minds, huh? But yes, you are so right. We get so caught up in everything being perfect when 99% of the time, it just doesn’t have to be. Thanks, Kerry!
I’m a graphic designer, and am always doing this sort of thing with my logo design projects – but haven’t tried to explain that to my clients. This article is fabulous and a great place to start!
That is SO true, Kerry. As a web designer, sometimes I need some ‘distance’ from a website in terms of days or weeks even to come back and say “ah, here’s how I’d turn it up even more!” I just did that today, actually! I’m sure Erin can say something similar!
Increasing distance can increase perspective you might say…