Perspective Drawing

Linear Perspective: is a
system for drawing 3-D space
on a 2-D surface by following
the rule that all parallel and
receding lines converge to
vanishing points, and that What is this type of
objects appear smaller as they drawing called?
recede in space.
The entire theory of perspective can be developed from a single fact:
that the apparent size of an object decreases with increasing distance
from the eye.

This is the phenomenon that makes railroad tracks converge into the
distance.
 The Middle Ages
• Before the Renaissance, artists
relied on Atmospheric Perspective
or size, placement, and overlapping
to distinguish between and
determine the importance of areas
and objects in their work.

• Works emphasized symbolism and

religion rather than realism.

* What parts of this painting look most realistic to you?

* What parts look least lifelike?
* Which objects or people seem closest and most distant in
the painting?
*What clues does the artist give that one object is further
away than another?
The Renaissance
• Why did pictures change from those without
perspective to those that had perspective?

For one thing, Brunelleschi happened!

• Filippo Di Ser Brunellescohi(1377-1446), sculptor,

architect, and artisan-engineer, is given credit for the
invention of linear perspective. Here he is looking up at the
famous dome he built for El Duomo (1418-1436) in
Florence.

During the Renaissance, European artists began

to study the model of nature more closely and to
paint with the goal of greater realism. They
learned to create lifelike people and animals, and
they became skilled at creating the illusion of
depth and distance on flat walls and canvases by
using the techniques of linear perspective.
He developed the idea of
Orthogonal lines !!
Leonardo da Vinci trained as a painter
during the Renaissance and became a true master of
the craft. His amazing powers of observation and
skill as an illustrator enabled him to notice and
recreate the effects he saw in nature, and added a
special liveliness to his portraits. Curious as well as
observant, he constantly tried to explain what he
saw, and described many experiments to test his
ideas. Because he wrote down and sketched so many
of his observations in his notebooks, we know that
he was among the very first to take a scientific
approach towards understanding how our world
works and how we see it.
The Picture Plane: the imaginary transparent plane that lies
between the viewer and the subject.
Line of Sight: An imaginary line traveling from the eye of the
spectator to infinity.
Ground Plane or
Ground Line:
The bottom of the picture
plane.
 Lesson Objective
To be able to draw objects in one and two point perspective

A perspective drawing tries to show what something actually looks like.

Smaller
Smaller in
in the
the distance
distance

Larger
Larger close
close up
up
 Lesson Objective What
What is
is this
this point
called?
called?
point
To be able to draw objects in one and two point
perspective
A
A clue:
clue: the
the initials
initials are
are VP
VP

Vanishing
Vanishing point
point -- this
this is
is where
where
all
all lines
lines appear
appear toto meet
meet
One
One -- point
point perspective
perspective only
only
uses
uses one
one vanishing
vanishing point.
point.

The
The line
line where
where the
the
vanishing
vanishing point
point sits
sits is
is
called
called the the Horizon
Horizon Line
Line or or
Eye
Eye Level
Level Line.
Line.
The imaginary and lightly drawn guidelines in ItIt represents
represents thethe eye
eye level
level
perspective drawing are called orthogonal lines. of
of the
the viewer
viewer and
and is
is
They are usually parallel lines that converge on the determined
determined by by the
the height
height
horizon line at the vanishing point. of
of the
the viewer.
viewer.
Sighting: an angle measuring technique in which
the holds out a pencil at arm’s length toward the
object being examined to make comparisons.
 Lesson Objective
To be able to draw basic shapes in one and two point perspective

EXTENSION:
EXTENSION:
TASK: Draw a cross in
Draw
Draw aa letter
letter in
in one
one or or two-
two-
one-point perspective
point
point perspective
perspective then
then add add tonal
tonal
shading
shading to to it.
it.
1 Point Perspective Project : Your
Name
Create your name using 1- Point
Perspective
-Start with your horizon line and
vanishing point.
-Use orthogonal lines.
- Add a bit of yourself to your
drawing
- Add color and texture
 Lesson Objective
To be able to draw objects in two point perspective

ItIt uses
uses two
two vanishing
vanishing points
points
Two-point
Two-point perspective
perspective shows
shows NOT
NOT one!
one!
objects
objects edge-on.
edge-on.
WHY
WHY USE USE IT?
IT?
ItIt gives
gives aa more
more realistic
realistic view
view of
of an
an object
object
or
or product.
product.
 Lesson Objective
To be able to draw objects in two point perspective

TASK: Draw a cube in two-point perspective.

Explore what happens

when you place your cube
above, below and on the horizon
line!

3. Draw one side of your

1. Draw a line across the
2. Draw in two vanishing cube - using projection
middle of your page - this
points lines to one vanishing
will be your horizon
point

6. Add thick and thin 5. Draw two projection

lines to the vanishings 4. Draw in the other side -
lines and rub out your
point for the base - draw once again using
unwanted construction
in the outlines projection lines
lines.
 Vanishing point (one-point perspective) The
point or points at which all lines in a perspective
drawing meet

Vanishing points (two-point perspective) The point

or points at which all lines in a perspective drawing
meet

Horizon line
The line on which most vanishing points sit
(usually where the sky meets the land)

Construction lines
Faint lines that aid the construction of your
drawings. Usually rubbed out at the end.
 3 Point Perspective
Ant’s Eye View
Looking Up

Bird’s Eye View

Looking Down
 Thick and Thin lines
An enhancement technique used to improve
drawings. Thick lines add shadow.

Tonal Shading
An enhancement technique used to improve
drawings. When you add shades of white to
black to differentiate between surfaces. This
helps make the three dimensional illusion easier
to see.

Texture
An enhancement technique that simulates the way an object
feels to the touch or looks as it may feel if it were touched. 
 Lesson Objective
To be able to draw a city in two-point or three-point perspective

TASK
TASK
1.Using
1.Using thethe handout
handout as
as aa guide
guide create
create
aa 22 point
point perspective
perspective fantasy
fantasy city
city
scape.
scape. (( ItIt must
must have
have man
man made
made
structures
structures suchsuch as
as houses
houses andand
skyscrapers.
skyscrapers.

2.
2. Add
Add details
details to
to your
your work,
work, such
such as
as
trees,
trees, windows
windows andand pathways.
pathways.

3.
3. Add
Add rendering
rendering and
and enhancement
enhancement
techniques
techniques such
such as
as textures
textures and
and tonal
tonal
shading
shading to
to improve
improve your
your work.
work.