Most of us have memories of doodling in our notebooks during class. Maybe we created little characters, or made tiny flipbooks in the corners. And maybe you got in trouble for it.
If you were a doodler whose doodling was forbidden, take comfort in the fact that doodling is actually good for you, and can help with concentration, creativity, and problem-solving. So doodle away!
Then there are some people who take doodling to the next level. There was the man who used an entire city and a bicycle to create geographic doodles, and then there's 16-year-old João Carvalho, who goes by the moniker J. Desenhos online.
He takes the traditional 2D aspect of drawing and instead creates eye-fooling, mind-bending images that seem to rise right off the paper, or sink way down into a mysterious abyss.
Of course, the drawings are, in reality, two-dimensional. It's just through a careful understanding of shading and perspective that João is able to create the illusion of depth. These types of creations are known at trompe l'oeil, or "fool the eye," because they're so convincing!
Check out some of his work below and do some serious double takes!
[H/T: Bored Panda]
João uses a variety of techniques to create the illusion of depth on a flat piece of paper. He even draws in blue lines, like you'd find in a notebook, to heighten the illusion — and that must take considerable patience!
The lines help create a sense of depth and texture, and also the dizzying illusion that a regular sheet of notebook paper is moving!
Other designs include the illusion that the paper is melting or tearing away to reveal another world on the other side.
It's like a little reminder that there's always something more to see if you look a bit deeper.
So, how does he do it?
Well, João is kind enough to show us! As you can see, the paper actually isn't lined, and he also likes to use real props, like these clothespins, to add to the illusion.
He fills in the background with color and begins shading the white paper to create the illusion of folds and wrinkles.
Finally, he adds the lines to really make the folds and wrinkles pop, and the clothespins add even more realism!
Of course, the illusions don't have to be complex in order to be effective. Just the shape of the blue lines tells us all we need to know.
Their subtlety is almost startling!
And he can even use this technique to create the forms of some well-known characters!
You can see more of João's work on his Facebook group's page, where you can also see some artwork from other talented teens, as well.
And be sure to SHARE his work with anyone who's looking to expand their doodle skills!
