Sally Harris

Mrs. Harris,  Art Teacher

Sally has her students look at how artists (an architect in particular) during the Renaissance (Brunelleschi) started to try to achieve a more accurate realism in their artwork.  Brunelleschi developed a system called Linear Perspective that helped artists to see the illusion created when we look at our environment.

Example- Things in the distance appear to look smaller and parallel lines appear to converge to one "vanishing point."

After the history segment, Sally teaches students this method of seeing things differently. We call it sight perspective. She describes the experience as "an amazing process that changes the way our minds work." Students develop skills in observation and processing information that is basically an illusion.

Students go out into the hall and try to process what is being observed and represent Linear Perspective in their drawing. 

It is easy for some students and nearly impossible for others. But Sally enjoys watching the students figure this out. There are often "ahhh I see it" moments from the students, and that helps Sally feel and realize she has really taught them something. It may be a skill they will learn because they want to learn how to draw things more realistic, or it might be that they are learning to use their brain in a new way!