Linear Perspective
THE ILLUSION OF SPACE, PART 1
One of the most exciting aspects of drawing and painting is that you can transport the viewer to any place you wish, whether it involves re-creating a landscape from life or fashioning a scene from your own imagination. To help you convincingly represent these locations to the viewer, it’s important to know the basics of linear perspective—a geometric framework for representing a scene or three-dimensional object on a flat surface (such as your paper). The system is based on the fact that objects appear to shrink and parallel lines converge as they move into the distance. Let’s summarize the two most common types: one-and two-point perspective.
The most basic type is one-point perspective, in which all parallel lines leading away from the viewer converge to one vanishing point (VP) in the distance. This point lies about eye-level on the what we call the horizon line (HL). Train tracks, streets, and piers (below) offer perfect examples of this.
Learn to see one-point perspective in photos before tackling it in a drawing or painting. The diagram at near right marks the VP (red), HL (purple), and converging parallel lines (green). When drawing or painting, start by establishing the HL; then mark the VP. Lead all parallel lines to this point.
A more complicated vantage point might display two-point perspective, which involves exactly what you might suspect: two vanishing points. As a short exercise, take a look at the photo at right and determine the horizon line and vanishing points. —ETG
REMEMBER THIS!
Don’t be afraid to use a ruler to determine the angle of your parallel lines. Some artists advise against this in favor of a more oragnic style—but for beginners, accuracy is more important.