Northern Secondary School
Art Department
Art Comprehensive
Mr. S. Macnaughton
LINEAR PERSPECTIVE
Grade 9
Definitions of Perspective Terms
Horizon Line:
The eye level of the spectator
 A line drawn horizontally across the picture plane at the point of
intersection with the line of sight.
Construction Lines:
(Perspective Lines)
(Vanishing Lines)
Help you to draw an object accurately in perspective.
Vanishing Points:
The point of convergence on the Horizon Line where Perspective Lines
meet.
Picture Plane:
A flat vertical surface that can be imagined as a sheet of glass in front of
the spectator through which the object is being viewed.
One Point Perspective:
(Parallel Perspective)
All convergent lines meet on the horizon at a single vanishing point.
Two Point Perspective:
(Angular Perspective)
Convergent lines meet at a vanishing point to the left and to the right
along the horizon line.
 Drawn lightly as a guide for creating the object to be drawn.
 Perspective lines are also drawn lightly and will convergence at the
vanishing point(s).
 Horizontal Lines that are directly facing the spectator are drawn as
parallel lines to the horizon.
 Vertical Lines are drawn parallel to each other and are perpendicular
to the horizon.
 Vertical Lines still remain vertical.
Reflections:
Form a mirror-like image of the object in perspective drawn directly
below the object on a surface such as water or wet pavement.
Ellipse:
This is the term given to the appearance of a circle when it is drawn or
viewed in perspective.
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Other Methods of Creating the Illusion of Depth in a Perspective Drawing are:
 The use of overlapping objects: Objects in front appear closer while those objects behind appear
further away.
 Position of the Spectator: The closer the spectator stands to the object the greater the appearance
of foreshortening will be on the picture plane.
 Position of the Picture Plane: The further away the object is from the picture plane the smaller it
will appear. This is of course providing that the spectator remains in a fixed position relative to
the object.
 Size: Objects that are closer appear larger while objects that are further away from the spectator
will appear smaller.
 Detail: More detail and greater clarity will appear on objects drawn as being closer to the
spectator.
 Intensity: Objects closer to the spectator appear brighter in colour while those objects further
away begin to diminish in colour to the point of appearing gray.
9-Art Comprehensive-Linear Perspective