What's hidden in the Mona Lisa?
Many artists enjoy sketching or painting hidden images within their larger works. The media has suggested often that the works of Leonardo da Vinci, including the Mona Lisa, contained hidden images and messages. This type of art is often referred to as camouflage art and gained wide attention with an artistic technique called Magic Eye, introduced in the 1990s, that incorporated hidden text and images within a larger artistic design that became apparent after staring at the image for several minutes. Learn how you can create hidden pictures within your sketches and paintings.
Instructions
1. Determine the medium you want to use to present your hidden image art. It works the same way whether you paint or sketch. The hidden images will need to be sketched in regardless of the medium you choose to work with. You'll build your main image around them.
2. Sketch your hidden image or images with pencil, very lightly. You can do several small images or one large image. Getting the hidden images placed on canvas or in your sketch pad is a crucial step because you will be building another image around them.
3. Sketch your larger image onto your canvas or in your sketch pad. Sketch it around your hidden image or images. As you sketch, consider ways to make elements of your larger image from some of the elements of your hidden image. Integrate the hidden image with the obvious image in such a way that they are connected but work independently as well. You don't want people who view your work to find the hidden images easily, but you don't want to make it impossible either.
4. Add paint or darker pencil shading to develop your main image around the hidden image. Keep in mind that you want the images to share colors, but use different shades for both the hidden and main images. If the colors in the hidden images are drastically different than the colors in the main image, your hidden images will stand out to much.
5. Blend your hidden images with your main image. Step back from your sketch or painting and look at it naturally. Determine if the hidden images are too easily seen. Keep in mind that you know where they are, so it will be easier for you to see them. You'll need to keep your focus on the main image and try to ignore the hidden images. The main image should pop off the canvas first. Hidden images are secondary and should only come into view as you stare at the art piece. Blend the edges with your fingers or by using a paint thinner to ensure that the lines between the main art and the hidden art make a smooth transition and aren't too hard.
