Trompe L'Oeil

[J D Hillberry]

Hi David,

I'm so glad you decided to post this here. I have to tell everyone that David was in my workshop last weekend and he fooled me with this. I was walking through the classroom helping others when he secretly placed this piece next to my drawing board. When I walked back to the front of the class, he told me that he had left his ruler there and asked if I could hand it to him. When I tried to pick it up I was shocked to find that it wasn't really there! He spent 3 days setting me up for this by making sure I had seen him with a real ruler that looked just like the fake one.

Matti really hit the nail on the head when he said that the semi-realistic kid really makes the other objects look real. I use this idea in some of my trompe l'oeil pieces. Creating differing degrees of sharpness and contrast can help fool people. If the baby were rendered as realistically as the rest of the image I don't think the overall piece would be as effective.

By the way, this all took place in a portrait workshop. Maybe I would be expecting it a little more in a trompe l'oeil class!

I really like this and the fact that it contains "my baby" and he fooled me with it makes it even more special for me. By the way it looks more realistic in person.

David, you were a great student and I hope to see more of your work here and at the July trompe l'oeil workshop.

So I guess I've given away the answer. None of it is real!
JD

[David Bjorgaard]

HI JD, and every one.


I wasn't going to brag about tricky JD in his work shop. I totaly set him up for 3 days and he way busy with 20 portrait students. I did not play fair but, I thought I would have a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of pulling it off. JD wants me to try and trick him again in July, GAME ON JD. Now since he knows ahead of time that I will try again it won't be so easy... I will let you know how that goes for me.

I do want to let every one to know the only reason I was able to do this level of work was because of JD'S book, web site tips, e-mails I sent him about problems with paper etc....... If any one out there wants some of the best tips out there go to JDhillberry's web site and read every thing on every page. If you really want to get good get his drawing book and doing every thing in there, read every page. I have renamed the book "the holy grail of drawing'. No matter how crazy it might sound just do it. Keep in mind since the release of the book JD has changed to General,Kimberly pencils only. I have been painting and drawing fine art portraits for 15 years...dave b

[amri]

GOOD GRIEF CHARLIE BROWN!!! I QUIT!!!
I just learned something new, here, then. I thought Trompe L'Oeil meant that you had to make something *boxed* and then part of what was in there, look as if it was leaving/coming .... extended from the framework.

I had no idea that ruler was drawn!! MAN!!! What does one say, now??

Bless your dear heart, Dave, for sharing this with us. May we see some of your work before you started this?

Well, I have JD's book and cherish it as I do my art books. Thanks.
I have to admit, I recognized that baby face right away and knew where it came from (being JD's doing ).

Bless you folks. IRma

[David Bjorgaard]

Hi irma,

Thanks so much for your kind words.
I cut down the paper on the left side and shaped it just like the broken ruler. It looks so real I have to turn it over to show friends that the paper is cut out in that shape. I kinda thought that would be a cool way to make the ruler look like it is extending out of the drawing and not part of it. I have not seen any one do that before. The ruler has a clear plastic spray on it to help it reflect light. I knew it would have to be good if I even had a prayer of fooling JD.

If you want to see more of my work go to my web site icandrawportraits The site is mainly for my students but some of my work is there, pencil, oil, pastels etc... take a look at the award page and see the fine silver woven tea set.

[gregg]

Great work, you got me on it as well. J.D.'s book is very good and I am glad I have it. It's like my drawing Bible.

[David Bjorgaard]

Hi irma,

I wanted to say also that I think a Trompe L'Oeil can be what ever you want it to be. As long as it tricks, or fools the eye.
thanks dave

[Ani]

Hi, just checked ur site. The silver tea set is like... WOW
Want to say too that is great work ur doing with the youth. Hats off to u!!

[David Bjorgaard]

Hi Ani,

Thanks for the kind words about the kids I work with.
My art teacher in high school said I could not make a small tea set. She said it would hold water and art should be something that its' only purpose is to be looked at. So, I hid what I was doing. I wove the tea pot out of fine silver wire and plopped it down on her desk and said "try and put water in that". I guess I have been messing with art teachers for years.
thanks dave

[Shiva]

Very great for your 1st post! Stunning eyes; they are definitly convincing real. Your hair needs more play in tones/tonal range.

[amri]

OK Mr Dave ~
I'll have to look at your website.
Well, my drawing has fooled *my eye* and it's no *Trompe L'Oeil* so...yeah.
Well, I noticed that your drawing was extended past the apparent page of the drawing of Mr JD's baby face, but that is why I thought you were just showing us the *baby face*.
SSSSOOOO What do I know??!!!! That is why *eye* *sew*...

Seriously, I have only really been trying to produce good drawings in the last 5 yrs, the end of this June. So apparently, you have been blessed with GOOD TEACHERS, if you have had to work at *fooling them*
I also learned to bake buns/Cinnamon buns in the last 17 yrs. Some just coming out of the oven, so help yourself, folks......
I wished my *art class* = AP family, could have some.

Anyway, back on art track. THANKS for sharing.
Bless you. IRma

ADDING: since my posting was last, I will just edit and add to it.
I went to your website and browsed briefly. WOW!! I love that tea set!! ha ha ha
VERY NICE job. Congrats at fooling that teacher. ha ha ha I have had teachers that if I had done something like that, I would have gotten a failure mark because that was NOT!! ASKED FOR. Very good work. And I'm glad that you are working with the youth, as well. I mean it was thought that *I* could never accomplish anything in life, so *I* am pleased with what I believe GOD has allowed me to learn/do.
Bless you. Irma