Perspective
Art Year 1
Perspective
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the science of painting and drawing so
that objects represented have apparent
depth and distance…
Perspective
Linear Perspective
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A system of drawing or painting in which the artist attempts to create
the illusion of spatial depth on a two-dimensional surface.
Following consistent geometric rules for rendering objects as they
appear to the human eye.
• Example: we see parallel lines as converging in the distance,
although in reality they do not.
• Stated another way, the lines of buildings and other objects in a
picture are slanted inward making them appear to extend back into
space.
• If lengthened these lines will meet at a point along an imaginary
horizontal line representing the eye level. Each such imaginary line
is called an orthogonal. The point at which such lines meet is called
a vanishing point.
Terms to know:

Picture Plane – the imaginary window that frames the
things you are attempting to draw or paint

Horizon Line – where the sky meets the earth
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Eye Level - the horizontal level in line with your eyes
when you’re looking straight ahead
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Vanishing Point – the point at which all parallel lines meet
and or vanish as they recede into the distance
Terms to know (cont.)

Converging Lines – parallel lines that appear to approach the
same point on the horizon
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Overlap – the placement of one object in front of another to
create the illusion of depth
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Size and Space Variation – the drawing of objects that are in
reality equally sized and spaced objects so that they get smaller
and closer together as they approach the horizon

Modeling – the shading and texturing of an object in a drawing
or painting so that it appears to have form, depth, a front, sides
and a back, there is something behind it if you could only see.

Color and Value Change – the use of a lighter value of color in
the areas you want to appear further in the distance
Rules of Thumb:
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Things appear to grow smaller as they recede
into the distance
Vertical lines in 1 point and 2 point perspective
will always be parallel to the sides of your
picture plane
Horizontal lines will only be parallel to the top
and bottom of the page in 1 point perspective
Generally, objects that are closer are shaded
darker than ones that are in the distance.
Draw an “X” across from corner to corner. Use a ruler.
Center becomes Vanishing Point.
Draw the Horizon Line across
the center of the page.
Begin drawing boxes of different
sizes.
Project Requirements

Use majority of space

At least 7 Boxes Total!
• Positive space-boxes
• Negative space-empty space
• 1 box with an opening
• 2 boxes overlapping
Next
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Practice Perspective
Practice Shading-value scale
Quiz on terms
Officer and Laughing Girl, painted probably about 1655-60
Oil on canvas, 19 ⅞ x 18 ⅛ inches
Linear Perspective
M.C. Escher
Town Hall, Delft 1939
woodcut
Complementary Colors

Complementary colors are pairs of
colors which, when combined, cancel
each other out. This means that when
combined, they produce a grey-scale
color like white or black. When placed
next to each other, they create the
strongest contrast for those particular
two colors.
Complementary Colors