Learn the Basics of Perspective Drawing and How to Master It

Perspective drawing gives objects on a 2D surface a sense of three-dimensionality. There are two types of perspective: linear perspective ... Home / Art LearntheBasicsofPerspectivetoCreateDrawingsThatPopOffthePage BySaraBarnesonJune18,2021 Two-pointperspectivedrawingofamall(Photo:StockPhotosfromZoltanMajor/Shutterstock) Drawingisfulloffundamentaltechniques thatwillimprovehowyoucreateart.Andifyouliketodrawrealistically,understandingthesemethodsisvital.Perspectiveisoneoftheseapproachesthatwillhelpyoubecomeabetterdraftsperson—especiallywhenitcomestoarchitecture.   Whatisperspectivedrawinginart? Perspectivedrawinggivesobjectsona2Dsurfaceasenseofthree-dimensionality.Therearetwotypesofperspective:linearperspectiveandatmosphericperspective.   BasicsofLinearPerspective Whenwetalkaboutone,two,oreventhree-pointperspective,we’retalkingaboutlinearperspective.It'samethodofrepresentingspaceinwhichthescaleofanobjectdiminishesasthedistancefromtheviewerincreases.Essentially,objectsthatarefartherawayfromusappearsmallerthanthosethatarenear.Thepositionatwhichtheymeetatahorizonline(theintersectionofwherethegroundmeetsthesky)iscalledthevanishingpoint. Linearperspectivemightseemrudimentarybutitwasn’tuntiltheRenaissancethatithadaname.In1413,ItalianarchitectFilippoBrunelleschibegandevelopinglinearperspectiveandthemethodthatmanyartistsusetoday.HestartedbypaintingtheoutlinesofFlorentinebuildingsinamirrorandsawthatwhenthestructure’soutlinewascontinued,thelinesendedonthehorizonline. Brunelleschi’sdiscoverywasamajorinfluenceonartistsatthetime.Manyyearslater,hisfriendLeonBattistaAlbertipennedDePictura,thefirsttreatiseonlinearperspectivethatexplainedhowtocorrectlyshowdistanceinapaintingusingmathematicprinciplesfirstprovenbyEuclidinancientGreece.   One-PointPerspective Oneofthebestillustrationsofsingle-pointperspectiveistoimaginethatyou’relookingatastraightroad.Alloftheelementsofthecomposition—particularlytheroaditself—willconvergeatasinglepointonthehorizonline. Photo:FranciscoDelgado Single-pointperspectivecanbeatanypointalongthehorizonline;theonlystipulationisthatalllinesleadtothesolitarypoint.Althoughelementary,itisevidentiniconicworksofart. Perspectivalstudyfor“TheAdorationoftheMagi,”c.1481 LeonardodaVincibestexemplifiesthisinhisperspectivalstudyforTheAdorationoftheMagiaround1481.ThisincrediblesketchdemonstratesthegreatlengthsthatdaVinciwentthroughtodeterminethefocalpointofthepiece.Noticehowthelines,fromthestepstothearches,allconvergeatthesamespotonthehorizonline.   Two-PointPerspective Cubeintwo-pointperspective(Photo:StockPhotosfromkavalenkava/Shutterstock) Justasone-pointperspectivefocusesononevanishingpoint,two-pointperspectiveushersinasecondone.Typically,thesetwopointsareattheoppositesidesofthecomposition,suchasoneonthefarleftandanotheronthefarright.   Three-PointPerspective Image:CircleLineArtSchool Three-pointperspective,alsocalledmulti-point,isatypeofperspectivethathasmorethantwovanishingpoints.Thisiscommon,especiallyasthecomplexityofthesubjectmattergrows.Astandardsetupfeaturestwovanishingpointsonthefarleftandfarrightofthecompositionandthenthethirdpointbelowthem.Indoingthis,yougetabird’seyeviewtothesubject.Ifyouweretoplacethethirdpointabovethetwovanishingpoints,itwouldcreateanextremeviewlookingupwards.   IntroductiontoAtmosphericPerspective Linearperspectiveisbasedonmathematicsandstraightlines,butatmosphericperspectivereliesonsomethingentirelydifferent.Alsocalledaerialperspective,itconveysdepththroughvaluechanges,colors,andvisualclarity. Oneofthebestwaystoillustrateatmosphericperspectiveisinalandscapephotograph.Imagineyou’reviewingamountainscapefarinthedistance.Theformationsclosesttoyouwilllookthemostcolorfulandinthegreatestdetail.Asthemountainsappearfartheraway,theyhaveadull,bluishcastcoveringthem. Photo:GuillaumeBriard Howdoesthishappen?Inatmosphericperspective,water,vapor,andevensmogaffectwhatyousee.Asthere’smoredistancebetweenyouandaform,theincreasedparticlesresultinlessvisualcontrast.Italsohastodowithcolorwavelength.Bluecolorwavestendtobouncearoundtheseparticles,whichiswhythingstakeonthishuefromlongdistances.   ViewthispostonInstagram   ApostsharedbyAdemPotaş(@adempotas) Thisidea,thatthingsclosertoyouarebrighterandeasiertosee,goeshand-in-handwithvaluesincompositions.Thingsthatarehighcontrast(acombinationoflighttonesanddarktones)aremoreeye-catchingthanlowcontrast.IntheabovepaintingbyartistAdemPotaş,thetreesinthebackdroppracticallydisappearbecausetheirtoneisnearlythesameastherestofthesky.   LearnHowtoCreateYourOwnPerspectiveDrawings Nowthatyou’vebeenintroducedtothebasics,it’stimetopracticeyourperspectivedrawing.   DrawingLinearPerspective:One,Two,andThreepoints CircleLineArtSchoolhascreatedthreein-depthvideosthatexplainhowtodrawwithoneormorevanishingpoints.Eachproductionisnarratedstep-by-stepanddemonstratessketchingabuilding(orbuildings).Allyouneedisyourfavoritesetofdrawingpencils,aneraser,andruler.   TipsonHowtoIncorporateAtmosphericPerspectiveinYourWork  Artist LinekeLijnexplainshowshecreatesatmosphericperspectiveinherworkandhowyoucanincorporateitintoyourwork,too.   Needmoreinspiration?Here'ssomeartwelovethatfeaturesperfectperspective. Artist:PaulHeaston Artist:PaulHeaston PalaceofWestminster,London.Artist:LorenzoConcas Notre-DameCathedral,Paris.Artist:LorenzoConcas Artist:AysyluZaripova Artist:ThomasW.Schaller   ViewthispostonInstagram   Apostsharedbyenyahonami｜塩谷歩波(@enyahonami) Wanttolearnmore?Herearefivepracticaldrawingtipstotakeyourarttothenextlevel.   Readytoshareyourartwork?Showitoffinour Art,Design,Photography,andDrawingClub.   RelatedArticles: ArtistCreatesMeticulouslyDetailedInkDrawingsofArchitectureAroundtheWorld NewtoDrawing?MakeSureYouKnowTheseBasicTechniquesBeforeYouStart 50+DrawingIdeasThatWillGetYouSketchingRightNow Knowsomeoneperplexedbyperspective? Share LikeMyModernMetonFacebook GetOurWeeklyNewsletter BecomeaMyModernMetMember Asamember,you'lljoinusinourefforttosupportthearts. BecomeaMember Explorememberbenefits Knowsomeoneperplexedbyperspective? Share Let'sConnect ReceiveourWeeklyNewsletter. We’realsoonPinterest,Tumblr,andFlipboard. Wanttoadvertisewithus?Visit MyModernMetMedia. 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