More on Perspective
The horizon line is a theoretical line that represents the eye level of the observer. The horizon line is the same as the landscape's horizon; however, most of the time, hills, trees, buildings, and other objects obscure the horizon. Usually the horizon is not visible indoors, but there is still a theoretical horizon line representing the eye level of the observer.
Telephone Poles and other Vertical Lines |
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A telephone pole crosses the horizon line at the eye level of the viewer. |
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| If we say that the viewer's eyes are 5' above the ground, then anything that goes above the horizon line is higher than 5'. |  |
If a pole is the same height as the viewer's eye (5' in this case), then the top of the pole is the same as the horizon. If it is shorter than 5', than it is entirely below the horizon line. |
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| If the eye level of the viewer changes, so does the point at which the pole intesects the horizon. |  |
Two-point linear perspective:There are three kinds of lines used in two-point perspective...
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Squares in Two Point Perspective |
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| Drawing a Two Point Perspective Square on the ground | |
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| Draw a horizon line |  |
Draw left and right vanishing points  near the left and right ends of the horizon line |
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Pick a point  on the "ground" for the nearest corner of the square |
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| Note: To avoid distortion, the angle between the two orthogonals must be greater than 90 degrees. |  |
| Draw a line from each vp to this near corner of the square |  |
| Eyeball the distant edge of the square and draw a line there |  |
| Here's a square, lying flat on the ground |  |
BoxesAll of these boxes are flat on the ground or hovering above it, but not tilted |
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| Single Point Perspective 2 ', 4 1/2' and 10' boxes... 5' horizon. |
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| Single Point Perspective 2', 4' and 10' boxes... 2 1/2'' horizon. |
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| Single Point Perspective 6", 2', 4 1/2' and 10' boxes... 7 1/2' horizon. |
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| Two Point Perspective 6", 2', 4 1/2' and 10' boxes... 5' horizon. |
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| Two Point Perspective 6", 2', 4 1/2' and 10' boxes... 2 1/2' horizon. |
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Drawing Boxes in Two-point Linear Perspective |
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| Establish a horizon line |  |
| Draw the nearest corner of the box as a vertical line to the height you want the box to be. |  |
| Establish a left and a right vanishing point. |  |
| Connect the bottom of the box to the right and left vanishing points... be sure the angle between the two orthogonals is greater than 90 degrees. If it isn't, move one or both of the vanishing points further from the center, and redraw the orthogonal(s). |  |
| Connect the top of the nearest corner of the box to the right and left vanishing points. |  |
| Draw a vertical line between the two converging right-side lines. |  |
| Connect the top of it to the left vanishing point. |  |
| Draw a vertical line between the two converging left-side lines. |  |
| Connect it to the right vanishing point. |  |
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Canaletto |
Salvador Dali, Crucifix |
Edward Hopper |
Edward Hopper |
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Temple_of_Concord |
Thomas Mundy Peterson School (In additon to being the first black man to vote in America (March 31, 1870), Peterson was also the Perth Amboy, NJ's first African American to serve on a jury and the first black man in Middlesex County, New Jersey to hold elected office.) |
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Equal Spacing |
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The apparent distance between equally spaced objects seems to decrease as the objects get further away. How to equally space fenceposts in perspective: |
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| Draw the first post at the desired height and connect the top and bottom of it to a vanishing point on the horizon. | Draw the second post between the two orthogonal lines. | Draw an "X" to find the center of the space between the two poles. |
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| Connect the center point to the vanishing point. | Draw a line from the top of the first post through the middle of the second post... continuing it until it hits the bottom orthogonal. Draw a line upward from this point to create the third post. | Draw a line from the top of the second post through the middle of the third post... continuing it until it hits the bottom orthogonal. Draw a line upward from this point to create the fourth post. |
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| Repeat for all additional posts. | 18" eye level view. | |
Assignments
When working on each of these assignments, begin in pencil. After drawing all lines, ink the horizon and the objects lines. Leave the pencil guidelines ...do not erase them. Assume your eyes are 5' above the ground for all assignments and tests in this course, unless otherwise specified. Use individual 4" x 6" pieces of bristol board for each of the following assignments. |
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- draw a two point box located below the horizon line,
- one hovering above the horizon, and
- one that is about halfway above and below the horizon.
- Photograph, printout, and mount in sketchbook, examples of 2-point perspective (at least 4).
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