Perspective
drawing is
a technique used to represent three-dimensional images on a two
dimensional picture plane. When we want to draw a real object in a
paper we try to represent the depth in a flat surface. This surface
has only two dimensions, while the object has three dimensions. How
can we do it? The answer is: using perspective.
“Perspective
is to painting what the bridle is to a horse, the rudder to a ship...
There are three aspects to perspective. The first has to do with
how the size of objects seem to diminish according to distance; the
second, the manner in which colours change the farther away they are
from the eye; the third defines how objects ought to be finished less
carefully the farther away they are”
(Leonardo da Vinci).
Look
at the image and verify Leonardo’s observations:
- Do all the objects seem to diminish according their distance to the viewer?
- Do the colours change the farther they are from the viewer’s eye?
- Do the objects less accurate the farther they are?
 | |||
| Picture 1 |
Look
at picture 2. It shows the linear perspective of the image
above. Pay attention at the next points:
- All the lines join in a point called over the horizon line. This point is called vanishing point.
- Shapes appear smaller the farther they are.
- The horizon line appears at the same height that our eye-level.
Picture 2 Perspective was developed in the 15th Century by architects. For 500 years, perspective remained one of the basic principles of Western art, until it was challenged by the ideas of the Cubists (for example Picasso) at the start of the 20th Century.Knowing and understanding perspective is an essential tool to help anyone improve their drawing technique.
There are two main elements in perspective drawing: - Linear perspective: organizes shapes in space
- Aerial perspective: atmospheric effects on tones and colours.
We
are going to practise linear
perspective.
THE
HORIZON AND THE EYE LEVEL
The
horizon and the eye level are the axis around which a perspective
drawing is constructed.
When
we are outdoors, we use the horizon as a point of reference to judge
the scale and distance of objects in relation to us.
In
perspective drawing, the horizon has to be the viewer’s eye-level.
Look
at the next pictures to explore the value of horizon and eye level.
 | |
| Picture 3 |
In
picture 3, note how all four figures share the same eye level (it’s
the same than the horizon line). This suggests that they are all the
same height and are standing on the same plane (on the floor). It
also suggests that the figures are the same height as any viewer of
the picture. As a result, the organisation of scale and distance in
the drawing makes good visual sense.
 | |
| Picture 4 |
In
picture 4, although the figures are still the same size than in
picture 1, their eye levels don’t have any relationship to the eye
level of the picture. As a result, the scale of the figures is
totally confused.
This
demonstrates the importance of the horizon/eye level to the
organisations of scale and distance in a perspective drawing. It
also illustrates the meaning of Leonardo’s words “Perspective
is to painting what the bridle is to the horse, the rudder to a
ship”.
ONE
POINT PERSPECTIVE
One
point perspective uses a single
vanishing point
to draw an object. It is the simplest form of perspective drawing,
and is the perspective we are going to work with.
Look
at the next picture:
 | ||
| Picture 5 |
One
point perspective has been used to draw a box.
Vanishing
points
are dots on the eye-level where parallel lines seem to converge and
disappear. One point perspective has only one vanishing point. You
can see clearly the vanishing point in picture 2.
