Course Highlights


How to Change Eye Level in Your Drawings

In section 2, we discussed the root shapes of all subjects: cubes, cylinders, spheres, and cones. We learned that we could make adjustments to each basic form or combination of forms to render any subject we wished. However, before we can realistically recreate any subject that intrigues us, we must first understand the concept of eye level and its influence on our perspective.

Eye Level

A classic error made by many students is that they neglect to incorporate the concept of eye level into their drawings. Eye level refers to the height at which one's eyes observe an object, determining one's point of view. To illustrate this concept, pick an object near you and adjust the height at which you look at it. Look at it from above, look at it from below and then look at it straight on with your eyes parallel to the object. This parallel viewpoint is also known as the horizon line. You will notice that at different heights, above, below or in line with the horizon, different sides of the object are viewable.

Eye Level / Horizon Line

Above Eye Level

Below Eye Level


 

Other pages of interest

The importance of symmetry
Slow down: Don't be too quick to erase
Seeing inherent shapes in your drawings
Seeing spaces, shapes and proportions
How to change your perspective in your drawings

 

 

 



 

 

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