Free book: Drawing Portraits #006

1.2.7 Impact

Impact is associated with a sudden change and exchange of energy. When a hammer hits a chunk of metal, we can imagine the impact. This concept of a sudden and forceful change of energy is an analogy in many ways. We talk of the impact of waste on the environment, or an impact statement in business. It's associated with a disturbance, and in general, a kind of “wow” factor. For a drawing to have impact, we want it to make people stop and think. It might be shocking or high contrast or jagged. There are no hard rules for creating impact, but you will know it when you see it. Impact might be hidden in the meaning of a work, so that the impact remains dormant until the viewer suddenly sees something new. An example might be a composition of a group of people chatting. They might at first be seen as casually talking, but as the viewer lingers on the content, he or she may suddenly realise that they are about to be given some terrible news. The impact might be delivered by characters in the background who may be out of focus. Impact, therefore is any element of the work where a sudden exchange of information bursts into the mind of the viewer. Impact is often more obvious, as in an example where strong diagonal lines force the viewer's eye to the main subject matter which stands out due to high contrast and detail compared to the rest of the drawing. If you want to convey peace and tranquility, then high-impact might not be very useful. So you need to use it in the right context, and the right amount.