Course Highlights
- Learn how to draw
- Drawing Lessons
- Teaching Critique
- Learn to Sketch
- How to Draw People
- Affordable Art Classes
- Personalized Certificate
Taking Perspective a Step Further
We've seen what happens to the basic view of the
cubic form when it is lowered and raised beyond the
horizon line. Now let's see what happens when you turn
the cube on an angle so that it is no longer parallel
with the drawing plane. In fact, whether drawing urban
or natural landscapes you will likely find that objects
look less attractive if they are placed parallel to the
drawing plane and therefore are almost always placed at
an angle.
To draw an angled cube in perspective, we will have to
use what's known as 2 point perspective, also known as
angular perspective .
To begin, we establish our horizon line. Next, we place
a vanishing point on either end of the horizon line.
From these points, we will draw a series of diagonal
lines (perspective lines) that will intersect in ways
that will guide us in drawing the cubic form in
perspective.
In this next demonstration, we will draw a large truck.
Notice how the perspective lines gradually form the
sides of the truck and guide us in proportioning the
size of the wheels.
Two point perspective can seem a little tricky at first but if you analyze
the perspective lines we have drawn and slowly attempt to recreate them,
you will get the hang of it. When it comes to drawing, it is often much
easier to learn by doing then to interpret long paragraphs of descriptive
text because art is a predominantly visual skill.
The next set of sketches show the same process used to draw the same truck
but above the horizon line this time.
Note: The angle of an object can be repositioned and its vanishing
points will remain on the same horizon as other established objects, but
you can not change your viewpoint of that object without changing the
position of the horizon. Consequently, if you begin a drawing sitting
down, you must carry out the drawing sitting down. If you are standing,
remain standing and so forth.
Final Note: The distance of the vanishing points with respect to the
object plays an important role in its representation. The closer the
points are to the model, the more distorted it will appear. It is
important to place the vanishing points at a distance, otherwise the
images will look distorted. (45• angle serves as a useful guide.)
Other pages of interest
Establishing the horizon line
Drawing a cube in
perspective
Taking drawing perspective a step further
Sketching
cube based objects
Sketching
spherical objects