Understanding the Art of Perspective in Drawing
The art of perspective plays an important role in creating visual depth and three-dimensionality on the canvas plane. This technique allows artists to reproduce the impression of space and distance, making images more realistic and vibrant. Perspective provides us with a means of conveying how objects change their appearance as they move through space, and also determines their relative positions.
Perspective in Basics: Perspective in drawing relies on certain principles that are easy to understand but often difficult to master. One of the basic concepts is linear perspective, where lines parallel to the horizon appear to converge to a single point on the horizon. This creates the illusion of distance and depth, giving the piece harmony and structure.
Role of Horizon: The horizon is a key element of perspective, defining the viewer's eye and establishing a point of view. Understanding how the horizon interacts with perspective lines allows the artist to create stunning compositions, imbuing them with deep space and perspective. It also affects how light and shadow are distributed across the surface of objects, creating the perception of volume.
In this blog, we'll look at different aspects of the art of perspective, from the basics like linear perspective to more advanced techniques like playing with color and shadow. Let's delve into a world where drawing turns into a 3D illusion that gives your creations uniqueness and depth. Our selection features works of art that skillfully use perspective. We invite you to familiarize yourself with them and see their exquisite image.
The art of drawing in perspective
Perspective drawing is an art that allows the artist to create the illusion of three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional surface such as paper, canvas, or screen. Drawing in perspective requires the artist to know the basics of geometry, anatomy, light and shade and color, as well as the ability to use various techniques and techniques that create the effect of depth and space. In this article, we will look at what types of perspective there are, what rules and techniques are used for drawing in perspective, and what examples of art can be cited as illustrations.
Linear perspective and its types:
1. Frontal Perspective: One of the simplest forms of spatial representation is linear perspective with a single vanishing point, and it is well known as frontal perspective. In this case, the objects are located frontally in front of us, and some of their faces are parallel to the horizon line, while the other part is perpendicular to it. All parallel lines directed towards the vanishing point create the illusion of depth, while those at right angles to our vision remain completely undistorted.
2. Angular perspective: When the image of an object is tilted relative to the viewer, we are faced with angular perspective, forming two vanishing points. This is especially noticeable when looking at the drawing of a cube: the edges of the geometric shape converge to two points, creating an interesting effect. This perspective is often found in real life when we see objects at an angle.
3. Three-Point Perspective: In the world of three-point perspective, we add a third vanishing point, making the image even more dynamic. This type of perspective is also known as vertical or oblique perspective. Here we will need to distort the top of the object in angular perspective. This technique is often used by architects to create impressive renderings of tall buildings such as skyscrapers. The zenith (the point above the horizon) and nadir (the point below the horizon) add unique perspective elements, and neither line remains parallel to the picture plane.
The Art of Linear Perspective: Step by Step
Let's dive into the world of linear perspective, breaking down each step to learn how to construct images without distorting perspective. Let us remind you that following these steps correctly is the key to achieving maximum realism in your drawing.
Frontal perspective
Let's look at one of the most basic types of perspective - frontal. Let's take a cube as an object. The first step is to determine the main elements that create perspective: the horizon line and the vanishing point. Theoretically, they can be placed anywhere in the picture, but not every position will provide a good angle.
Now we will install two vanishing lines that will indicate the width of the cube. They will define the side edges of the figure. The two vanishing lines will become the base of our cube, creating depth for it. Thus, we will draw the left and right side lines. Then connect them with two parallel horizontal lines. These connecting horizontal lines will be parallel to the horizon line.
Next, let's start drawing the vertical edges of the figure, taking two side points in the foreground. Let's draw vertical lines from them upwards. Let's add two more vanishing lines that intersect the previously drawn side edges. This determines the height of the cube. Note that all vanishing lines originate from the same point, which is a feature of frontal perspective.
Now let's draw the front face of the cube by drawing a horizontal line between the side edges. It is important that they are at the same height relative to each other, so that this line is parallel to the base of the figure. Now let's add the edges that are in the background, as well as the front lines drawn from the intersection points of the base and the side vanishing lines leading to the upper vanishing lines. Then connect these two lines with a parallel horizontal base line.
All that remains is to mark the top surface of the object. Let's draw two segments along the upper vanishing lines, thus connecting the back of the figure with the front. At the last stage, we will remove unnecessary lines that should not be visible - vanishing lines and invisible edges. This example is, of course, the simplest, but the principles of construction will remain the same regardless of what you depict. The main thing is to maintain the correct perspective.
Angular perspective
Angular perspective with two vanishing points is considered the most common and is distinguished by the fact that objects are seen at an angle. To illustrate this approach, consider a parallelepiped. Depending on the angle at which it is located, the figure can appear to us from the front, from below or from above. For simplicity, let’s consider an image of a figure in an angular perspective “from a bird’s eye view” - the most understandable and accessible example for beginners.
As in the previous version, we will start by drawing a horizon line, but this time we will add two segments indicating the vanishing points. From these points we will draw two lines, which will become the lower base of the future figure. After marking the base, we will construct a vertical frontal edge of the parallelepiped, which determines its height. The front edge will go up from the point of intersection of the vanishing lines closest to us.
Next, we will draw two new vanishing lines to connect the front edge with the vanishing points. These lines will be used to construct the top face of the parallelepiped. After this, we will draw two vertical lines from the far side corners of the base, extending them until they intersect with the upper vanishing lines.
Now let's draw two more lines from the vanishing points, intersecting the vertical lines of the far side edges at their highest point. This denotes the upper face of the parallelepiped. Let's connect the intersections of the lower base and the two new vanishing lines with a vertical segment, thus creating two rear edges. The final stage will be to remove unnecessary construction lines and invisible edges of the figure.
Three point perspective
Using three vanishing points, we can spatially change the dimensions of objects in height and depth. As an example, consider the parallelepiped shown below. Knowing angular perspective allows us to construct the base of the figure as described above. However, for three-point perspective, we need another point, located in the center between the two already existing points, and located above the horizon line. From this point we draw three segments ending in the corners of the base, thereby forming the edges of the future figure.
Next, we move on to constructing the upper edge of the figure. We draw vanishing lines from two side points, determining the height independently, but not higher than the third vanishing point. At the places where they intersect we outline the upper base. To complete the process, we remove the auxiliary lines and invisible edges of the figure.
Let's also consider a variant of drawing a parallelepiped in a three-point perspective with a top view. In this case, the third vanishing point is located below the horizon line, and we start drawing the figure from above. Initially, using vanishing lines, we draw the upper base, after which we follow steps similar to the previous version of the “bottom view”. When drawing on your own, you can make mistakes and questions arise about the correctness of the construction. An experienced teacher at the Master of Drawing studio school will help you master the basics and teach you how to correctly depict objects from any point of view.
Creating depth and space on a plane
Perspective is a way of depicting space that is based on how the human eye perceives the distance, size and shape of objects. There are different types of perspective, which are characterized by the number and location of vanishing points, that is, points at which parallel lines going into depth appear to converge.
In addition to linear perspective, there are also:
1. Atmospheric perspective. This is a type of perspective that uses the change in color, contrast, detail and clarity of objects depending on their distance from the viewer to create the effect of depth and volume. Atmospheric perspective is suitable for depicting nature, sky, water and other objects that are exposed to air, light and shadow.
2. Distorted perspective. This is a type of perspective that breaks or ignores the rules of linear or atmospheric perspective to create the effect of movement, drama, irony or fantasy. Distorted perspective is suitable for depicting surreal, abstract, expressionistic and other objects that do not obey logic or reality.
In conclusion, perspective drawing is a fascinating art that requires the artist to have deep knowledge, creative skill and the ability to bring three-dimensional reality to the plane of the canvas. This art challenges the artist, providing a unique opportunity to give the viewer a glimpse into the essence and beauty of space.
In this article, we've covered the different types of perspective, explored the rules and techniques used in the process of drawing in perspective, and also looked at some examples of art that serve as excellent illustrations of this topic.
Linear, atmospheric and distorted perspective are distinguished by a different number and location of vanishing points, as well as a method of transmitting spatial characteristics based on the peculiarities of the human eye’s perception of distance, size and shape of objects. It is noted that in order to successfully implement the illusion of three-dimensionality on a plane, the artist needs to take into account such important elements as point of view, horizon, vanishing points, solution lines and projection lines. These factors significantly influence the perception of depth, proportions, shapes and details of the depicted objects on the canvas.
As a result, drawing in perspective not only provides the artist with powerful tools for creativity, but also opens up the opportunity for viewers to better understand and perceive the world around them, expanding the boundaries of visual perception and emphasizing the greatness of art. Our selection features works of art that skillfully use perspective. We invite you to familiarize yourself with them and see their exquisite image.