Linear and Atmospheric Perspective: Illusion of Depth Using Only Value and Placement Changes Lesson

Introduction

Practicing linear and atmospheric perspective techniques will give you a foundation to create an amazing finished product.

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Linear and Atmospheric Perspective Practice

Please watch the presentation below to learn more about linear and atmospheric perspective practice.

One-Point Perspective Demonstration

It is now time to watch the One-Point Perspective Demonstration video. Take notes as you watch the video and reach out to your instructor with any questions.

This video begins with a discussion about how to think about the relationship between the viewer and boxes or buildings in perspective. It is important to begin by thinking about what we know about boxes before we can draw from them as a reference. Then the video goes through the process of drawing boxes in one-point perspective. Starting with the horizon line and vanishing point in the center, we go through the steps of drawing a rectangle or square, aligning the corners with the vanishing point for the converging lines, and finishing off the back of the box parallel. This process continues to illustrate boxes below, on, and above the horizon. The practice drawing is complete when 9 boxes are drawn- 3 below, 3 on, and 3 above the horizon. The drawing needs to have the following labeled- all boxes, horizon line, vanishing points, and converging lines.

Two-Point Perspective Demonstration

It is now time to watch the Two-Point Perspective Demonstration video. Take notes as you watch the video and reach out to your instructor with any questions.

For two-point perspective, we discuss how to think about drawing boxes. Instead of facing one side of a box, or building, the viewer is facing one corner. The top and bottom of the vertical line aligns with the right and left vanishing points to create the front sides. Vertical lines are drawn for the back of the box, and the back points align with the opposite vanishing points. The video continues to illustrate boxes below, on, and above the horizon. The practice drawing is complete when 9 boxes are drawn- 3 below, 3 on, and 3 above the horizon. The drawing needs to have the following labeled- all boxes, horizon line, vanishing points, and converging lines.

Atmospheric Perspective Demonstration

It is now time to watch the Atmospheric Perspective Demonstration video. Take notes as you watch the video and reach out to your instructor with any questions.

For the atmospheric demo, we go through some do’s and don'ts of drawing. We want to grow past drawing “symbol” trees, clouds and grass. In order for things to look natural, things need to not be too straight and perfect. We need to think about how things fade as they go back into the horizon. So, when you're drawing any kind of landscape, all of the items that are close to you are actually further down on the picture plane while things that are closer to the horizon are far away. When drawing grass, establish where grass will go by smudging a little dirt going basically horizontal. The texture of the grass are small hatch marks drawn in patches. Water is initially established the same way with the smudge making the shadows. It takes a combination of drawing with the smudge stick, eraser, and pencil to develop the texture and highlights of the water. Also, the water is drawn primarily horizontal and parallel to the horizon. When drawing clouds, think about how when we look at clouds, we are looking under the clouds. The space under clouds are generally horizontal and parallel to the horizon. The form of the cloud depends on the type of cloud. Sections of the cloud should be studied in value and how it is relative to the atmosphere. The key with drawing anything in a landscape is to pay attention to your references. Pay attention to where the dark values are located and how they fit into the rest of the drawing. Draw texture carefully building the values from light to dark. Be careful not to draw “symbol” features. Pay attention to your reference and the landscapes you see every day.

Extension

Bird's Eye View Extension

Draw 10- 12 buildings in one point perspective creating a “Bird’s Eye View” or a view from above. With this drawing, you are pretending to be flying over the buildings looking down towards the ground. The same rules apply to this type of one point drawing. However, you will not have a horizon line. Place the vanishing point in the center of your page and draw buildings using the same process for regular one point perspective boxes.

Were you able to create a drawing that looks like you are flying over the buildings? Are the boxes drawn correctly?

1-point perspective drawing with labeled boxes above, on, and below the horizon, converging at vanishing point.

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