Perspective is the view or how you see depth (or space).
Vocabulary-
1. 1 point perspective (1 per)
A way to show depth and space on paper utilizing the horizon line and one vanishing point.
2. 2 point perspective (2 per)
Same as 1 point but with 2 vanishing points. One point for the left side of the image, one for the right side.
3. Point perspective
Same as two point but with a third point (I will call the gravitational point) or the point from the center of the earth.
4. Horizon line
This is an imaginary line which is invisible unless you were somewhere where you could actually see the horizon. This is the line where the curve of the earth is seen, or as it appears from your eyes to be the end of the visable space (beyond any obstacles that are in the way from viewing the end).
5. Vanishing point
This is an imaginary point that gets assigned to be on the horizon line. All perspective lines are pulled exactly to the point. Like the rays of the sun or the spokes of a wheel, these helpful lines are a template for your perspective drawing to be created.
6. Grandfather cube
A useful tool for beginner artist to help visualize a 3-D space on a 2-D piece of paper.
Exercises-
Understanding the space of our page. "The Grandfather Cube"
- Draw a box close to the outside edge of your picture.
- Draw another box inside a bit but not more than half the page in.
- Now connect the 4 corners of the inside box to the 4 corners of the outside box.
Now you have created "The Grandfather Cube"
- Now attack your gesture drawing and keep this space in your mind as you draw.
- Complete the drawing session in these cubes which you create first before your drawing begins.
Note:
As budding artists we are always learning, experimenting, and trying new things. We want to look and see differently and put down marks differently to fully explore the range of possibilities of the way our drawings may be created. So we like to call these attempts "thumbnails", or small sketches. To work these thumbnails is like having a best friend that you always want around. You work these thumbnails tirelessly. You have fun with them, you experiment with them, and most of all, you never are afraid of making mistakes with them. We could waist days and loads of paper on these thumbnails, all to be thrown away just to have your artistic journey further along on the path to self discovery and self mastery. Through diligent work with thumbnails you get the warmup you need to loosen up, let ideas and marks flow, and to be free from worry about making a masterpiece.
Extra secret:
When we work with thumbnails we make a box to create our picture in. No matter how small or how big we always create our boarders of our picture making space. I used to think that this was just to help us with our picture making to include these edges as foundations for where our graphics and marks would end for the viewer, and to always contemplate these edges in your work of picture making. Now this box takes on another meaning. It is "The Grandfather Cube", but simplified in only one box, you imagine the rest of the cube. So there it is. The box is useful and you will see many artist utilizing this tool in their drawings.
Other interesting variations of the cube:
Other interesting variations of the cube:
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| Angle of view, the origin of where your viewpoint starts. |
Overlap- Things on top appear closer because the top overlaps the bottom.
Principles of how to create background and foreground.
Background-
Less contrast
Muted, no detail
Far away
Lighter
Foreground-
Maximum contrast
Strong, detail visable
Close up
Darker
