Perspective is an essential part of art. It involves creating the illusion of depth and space in a two-dimensional surface (your page/canvas), giving the artwork a more realistic and believable appearance. In this blog post, we will provide some tips and tricks on how to get better at perspective.
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To get better at perspective, you need to understand the basic principles. The best way to do this is to start off by drawing simple forms at a variety of orientations. Boxes are a great place to start, before moving on to more complex forms like buildings or vehicles.
Understanding the Basics of Perspective
In essence, perspective involves representing objects in a way that mimics how we see them in real life.
There are three main types of perspective: one-point, two-point, and three-point.
One-point perspective is used when drawing objects viewed from the straight-on (where the viewer is looking perpendicular to the object’s face).
For now, focusing on one-point perspective is the best option when learning the basics.
Two-point perspective is used when drawing objects viewed from an angle.
Three-point perspective is used when drawing objects viewed from above or below, and at an angle.
If that doesn’t make sense, don’t worry. The number of “points” just means how many dimensions is your object being affected by.
So for one-point, things get smaller/further away only one way – into the page.
For two-point, anything going to the left gets smaller/further away, and the same happens at the right.
For three-point, it’s the same as two-point, but the up and down directions come into play too.
To create a sense of depth and space in your artwork, it is important to understand the principles, such as vanishing points, horizon lines, and converging lines.
What are vanishing points?
In real life, any object appears smaller the further away from you it is. If you think about a cube, the sides of it converge as they move away from you.
The vanishing point is simply the point where, if these lines kept on going, they would meet at this point.
Important to remember: Any lines parallel to each other all have the same vanishing point. The blue lines in the drawing above are parallel, so they will meet at the same vanishing point. And any other line parallel to these lines will meet at that same point.
The lines in red are parallel to each other but are at a different angle in space to the blue ones. So, these lines will have their own vanishing point – their own point where they would meet. Any parallel lines to these will meet at the same point too.
So, knowing this, one or two or three-point perspective means the amount of vanishing points being used. Two-point perspective = “I’m going make a point where these (blue) lines meet, and a point where these (red) lines meet.”
It’s a way to construct the drawing by only taking these two directions into account, basing the rest of the drawing on them.
What is the horizon line in perspective?
The horizon line in perspective (and in real life) is the line where all lines (that are parallel to the ground) converge to.
So, in the cube, the red and green lines – or anything in between – will meet at a point that’s somewhere on this line.
This means that if you are using two vanishing points for a cube, these points can be connected to form the horizon.
This line is also the eye-line of the viewer, so it changes based on where the viewer is.
Techniques for Improving Your Perspective Skills
Practice Drawing Simple Shapes in Perspective
One effective way to improve is to practice drawing simple shapes in perspective. Start by drawing basic shapes such as cubes and cylinders, and then experiment with drawing them from different angles using one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective. This exercise will help you understand how objects appear in space and how they interact with each other.
Using a Grid or Perspective Guide
Using a grid or perspective guide can also help you improve your perspective skills. A grid is a series of intersecting lines that can be used to create a framework for your drawing, while a perspective guide is a tool that helps you determine the correct placement of vanishing points and horizon lines. They’re a bit beyond the scope of this post, but YouTube has many tutorials on how to make a perspective grid.
Use Different Types of Perspective
Experiment with different types of perspective, such as one-point, two-point, and three-point, to create a variety of compositions. Each type has its unique characteristics. For example, one-point perspective is often used to create a sense of depth and distance in landscape drawings, while two-point perspective is commonly used to draw architecture and buildings. Three-point perspective, on the other hand, is often used to create dramatic, high-angle views of cityscapes and other complex scenes. By experimenting with different types of perspective, you can add interest and depth to your artwork and create a more varied and dynamic portfolio.
Use Overlapping Objects
Using overlapping objects is another technique that can help you create a sense of depth and space in your artwork. Overlapping objects occur when one object is in front of another, partially blocking it from view. This technique can be particularly useful when drawing landscapes or cityscapes, where there are many objects in the foreground and background.
Experiment with Foreshortening
Foreshortening creates the illusion of depth by shortening the length of objects as they recede into the distance. Experimenting with foreshortening can help you create more dynamic and interesting compositions. Try drawing objects such as a hand or a foot in foreshortened perspective to get a better understanding of how this technique works.
Practice Sketching from Life
One of the best ways to improve your skills is to practice sketching from life. By observing and drawing objects in real life, you can gain a better understanding of how perspective works and how objects interact with each other. Whether you are drawing a still life or a landscape, sketching from life can help you develop your skills and improve your artwork.
Study the Work of Other Artists
Studying the work of other artists can also help you improve your perspective skills. Look at how other artists use perspective in their work and try to identify the techniques they use. Try to identify the vanishing points. This exercise will help you develop a better understanding for your own artwork.
Practice Makes Perfect
As with any skill, the key to getting good is practice. Set aside time each day to practice even if it is just for a few minutes. The more you practice and observe, the more comfortable you will become with the techniques and principles.
Conclusion + The Best Book
Perspective is an interesting topic, but can be a challenge for lots of people. Just remember – it will click eventually. One book I studied helped me immensely. It’s very short too. It’s pretty much the go-to book for anyone learning. You can get it on Amazon here.
