Perspective Drawing

Introduction The artist’s business is to be able to draw and object so that it will look solid and not flat like the surface of the paper on which it is drawn. In doing so the artist employs a method that we call perspective.

Introduction Perspective (from Latin perspicere, to see through) in the graphic arts, such as drawing, is an approximate representation, on a flat surface (such as paper), of an image as it is seen by the eye. The two most characteristic features of perspective are that objects are drawn: – Smaller as their distance from the observer increases – Foreshortened: the size of an object's dimensions along the line of sight are relatively shorter than dimensions across the line of sight Perspective is used not only to make the object appear to have dimensions but also to cause it to appear close up or in distance or to suggest a feeling of space.

Introduction 15th century illustration from the Old French translation of William of Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer.

Introduction Geometrically incorrect attempt at perspective in a 1614 painting of Old St Paul's Cathedral. Old St Paul's Cathedral

Introduction Melozzo's usage of upward foreshortening in his frescoes at Loreto. Melozzo frescoesLoreto

Horizon The horizon line in perspective drawing is a horizontal line across the picture. It is always at eye level - its placement determines where we seem to be looking from - a high place, or from close to the ground. The actual horizon might not be visible, but you need to draw a 'virtual' horizon to construct a picture in perspective. The ideal example of the horizon is seen when viewed across a large body of water where no distant shore is seen. At sea the horizon is one continuous line. Also horizon can be considered as line where sky appears to meet the ground.

Horizon

Vanishing Point If we stand between two rails, then the two rails appear to meet at one point, though they are separated by a constant distance. Such a point where two parallel lines appear to meet is known as the vanishing point.

Vanishing Point

Eye Level: level with a person's eyes when looking straight ahead Imagine you’re x-ray man. Rays come out of your eyes, focused on your scene. The level of the rays would give you your eye level. If you look up or down, the rays coming out of your eyes would have an angle. In 1 and 2 point perspective the vanishing points are on this line. Different height or eye level and the angle at which the person is viewing the scene will create different effects.

Eye level

Picture Plane Picture Plane: This is a totally imaginary plane representing our drawing canvas. We use it to project our guide lines that come from the scene, as if we are taking a photograph. The picture plane actually catches a vision of the scene

Picture Plane

One Point Perspective

Here’s our basic room. Let’s put a rug on the floor. First, draw a horizontal line of the floor to be the edge of the rug closest to us.

Run Orthogonals back to the Vanishing Point.

Close the back of the object. Then darken orthogonals that form the rug edge.

Erase excess orthogonals.

There’s the rug. Now for a poster.

Run Orthogonals back to the Vanishing Point.

Close the back of the object. Then darken orthogonals that form the poster’s edge.

Erase excess orthogonals.

A rug and a poster in O.P.P.

Let’s make the poster into real “art” by adding a Frame. Start by drawing a Vertical line outside and larger than the poster.

Run Orthogonals back to the Vanishing Point.

Close the back of the object. Then darken orthogonals that form the frame edge.

Erase excess orthogonals.

The poster is now a framed painting in O.P.P. How classy!

One Point Perspective