One point perspective

1. Linear perspective to show depth and realism in your drawings

ONE POINT PERSPECTIVE

Marsha Devine ©2008

2. LINEAR PERSPECTIVE

We see parallel lines as converging in the distance, although in reality they
do not.

The lines of buildings and other objects in a picture are slanted inward
making them appear to extend back into space. If lengthened these lines
will meet at a point along an imaginary horizontal line representing the eye
evel. Each such imaginary line is called an orthogonal. The point at which
such lines meetis called a vanishing point.

Renaissance artists achieved through careful observation of nature,
including studies of anatomical dissections, a means to recreate the 3-
dimensional physical reality of the human form on 2-dimensional.surfaces.

The first to carry out a series of optical experiments that led to a
mathematical theory of perspective was the Florentine architect and mM
engineer Filippo Brunelleschi in the early 1400s.

3. TERMS USED IN LINEAR PERSPECTIVE ___

x Horizon line: An imaginary horizontal line, sometimes referred to as eye level, which
divides your line of vision when you look straight ahead.
Objects below this line are below your eye level, and objects above this line are
above your eye level. Artists draw horizon lines to accurately establish perspective in
their drawings.

» Orthogonal lines: Straight lines, drawn at an angle from the edges of objects, back
into perceived distant space, until they finally converge at a point on the horizon line.
These lines establish guidelines for drawing objects in proper perspective.

» Vanishing point: The point on the horizon line where the angular perspective lines of
an object visually continue past its edges and eventually converge.
Objects become smaller and smaller the closer they are to the vanishing point and,
at this point, seem to completely disappear (or vanish). Some objects can even have
more than one vanishing point.

Image rom the University of Hertfordshire

4. 1 PT PERSPECTIVE STEPS

x Locate & draw the Horizon Line
x Locate the Vanishing Point

x Draw Orthogonal Lines (perspective lines) from the
front edge of the object to the Vanishing Point

pe eee ee eeeeess A — — —
t 1

Horizon Line Horizon Line with Vanishing Point Y

Orthogonal Lines

5. LOCATING THE HORIZON LINE

Looking at your subject, decide where your eye level would be.
Remember - it will change depending on your position.

Draw this line on your paper and then locate the vanishing points.

7. LOCATING THE VANISHING POINT

The following steps explain how you can find a vanishing point in a photograph or sketch. These
basic principles also apply to locating a vanishing point in observational drawing.

Find an image that includes a level, man-made
object with horizontal lines, such as a railing,
deck, or wharf, or the roof, horizontal siding,
or steps of a building. Then follow these
steps:

1. Find an object in the image that you know is
level and has more than one horizontal
line.

In image at right, the horizontal lines on the edge

of the railing and the wooden planks in the
deck are level.

2. Tape a piece of tracing paper over the entire
image.

3. With a pencil and a ruler, outline the upper and
lower horizontal edges of this object, as well
as any other lines that you know to be
parallel, such as railings, decks, or the upper
and lower edges of doors and windows.

8. VANISHING POINT (P.2)

4. Tape your traced drawing to a larger sheet of
drawing paper, leaving room to extend the
horizontal lines of the object.

Refer to the lines on your tracing and take note of
the direction in which they point. You can visually
identify which lines are going to eventually
converge.

Tape only the outer edges so that the tape doesn't
tear the center area of your drawing paper when
you remove it.

5. Use your ruler and a pencil to extend all of the
horizontal lines until they meet.

Keep your lines light, so you can erase them later.
Note the point where most lines converge. This is
your vanishing point, which is located on the
horizon line

When an object has only one vanishing point, its
perspective is referred to as one-point perspective.

6. Draw a straight line (the horizon line) through the
vanishing point, horizontal to the top and bottom of
your drawing paper.

ve.

Adapted from htip//v dummies.com

vanishing

9. HOW TO DRAW A CUBE IN 1PT PERSPECTIVE

#5

a

#

STEP 1: Start by drawing a horizontal line for the
horizon line. Place a vanishing point (VP) on the
line (in this practice sketch you can decide where
that goes).

STEP 2: Now draw several rectangles
STEP 3: From each corner of every

rectangle, draw a lino to the VP -- you may
use a ruler (in gray on diagram)

vp

STEP 4: Finish off the boxes by drawing
lines parallel to the front of each rectangle
lining them up to line up the rear corners on
the same lines that come from the front
comers. (in faded blue on diagram)

STEP 5: Complete each box (cube) by
connecting the front and back of each box.
(light blue lines)

STEP 6: In this box the visible lines are
re-drawn in red. Other lines would be
lighter, or erased.

Marsha Devine
472007

10. Horizon Line

Orthogonal Lines

Orthogonal Lines (in red)

11. CHURCH OF SANTO SPIRITO

Filippo Brunelleschi sketched this
drawing before building the
Church of Santo Spirito,

using 1 point perspective.

The actual church as it stands today.

12. STUDENT WORK: A HALLWAY IN 1 PT

7.

13. RAPHAEL'S "SCHOOL OF ATHENS,“ 1518

14. MASSACCIO’S HOLY TRINITY

Masaccio's Trinity, painted for S. Maria Novella in
Florence around 1427, is usually considered to be
the oldest surviving perspective painting.

15. A COLONNADE IN 1 PT

16. DIVIDING A WALL

Divide a wall into equal sections

This method
of dividing a
wall may be
used for 7 N vp
floors,
ceilings, or
any flat plane.

mid point of
wall

1/8 of wall

length 1/4 of wall length

‘Marsha Devine 2008

17. PLACING OBJECTS ON A WALL

Place a diamond into a square-- to show
perspective,

vP

mid point of
wall
418 of wall

length 4/4 of wall length

Maintain perspective
of objects hanging
on a wall.

18. HEALING OF THE CRIPPLE MASOLINO 1425

Note how the figures also appear smaller toward the horizon line.

19. STUDENT: INTERIOR IN 1 PT

This is a simple 1-point perspective

view. The cantilevered ceiling is off just

a bit The detail value range
are worth notici a

20. DISPUTATION OF ST STEPHEN CARPACCIO 1514

This vanishing
point is out of
the picture —
this off side
location of the
VP is more
dynamic than
straight on.

21. Use of 1 pt perspective
adds depth to this
Drawing.

22. LAYOUT OF A 1PT KITCHEN

In a kitchen whose end wall is 10° Suppose the side wal
wide and 8 high, the counter diagonal lines to deter
along the wall is 36" off the floor. point, and then use diagonals to

divide the middle to rear wall
- creating 2 sections on the

The kitchen sink is 30” wide.
The counters are 7 deep.

Sink outlined

in Dk Blue os

The cabinets are built out by drawing
convergence lines from the VP through the correct
measurement point on the rear wall and extending
that line down the side of the kitchen (cabinet lines
in blue). Detailed measuring is essential for
architectually acurate interior drawings.

24. LAYOUT OF A BEDROOM IN 1PT

Ifthe end wall is 8" tall and 10' wide - and | am standing with my eye level approximately 5' off the floor - the
horizon line (HL) divides the end wall Sbelow HL and 3° above HL.
Standing dead center in the room, my Vanishing Point (VP) is centered on the wall on the HL.

Horizon Line (HL)

If my end table is 2°
square -| draw a box
that is? x 2 on the
rear wall --

The bed is about 20"
from the floor and 4.5
wide.

Part of my table is
overlapped by the
bed.

I draw a box on the
rear wall that is
approx. 4.5 by 20". ari
then I draw

convergence lines
from the VP that
cross the corners of
the box on top and
bottom -. | can see
how big the front end
of the bed is because
it has to touch the
same lines >

Again, | draw
convergence lines
from the VP that pass
through the corners of
the back of my end
table box --- ‘sight’
the front of the end
table and make a box
that also touches the
same lines.

26. 1PT PERSPECTIVE

See how the horizon line
is at eye level?

See how all parallel lines
converge at the vanishing
point?

Note how the tiles on the floor
appear to be smaller as they
get closer to the horizon line -
actually they are all

the same size.

27. LAS MENINAS VELASQUEZ 1656

Here the orthogonal lines
converge at the mirror
reflecting the king

and queen, creating a
focal point.

29. This is about 1 "out from the wall.
Istharthedepth of the cabinet?

30. VOCABULARY REVIEW

Horizon Line - The apparent intersection of the earth and sky as
seen by an observer

Vanishing Point — The point in linear perspective at which all
imaginary lines of perspective converge. The point at which parallel
lines receding from an observer seem to converge. The point at which
a thing disappears or ceases to exist.

Convergence or Orthogonal Lines - The lines that make up the sides
of an object in a perspective drawing that relate directly back to the
vanishing point.

Horizontal — Parallel to or in the plane of the horizon.

Vertical — Being or situated at right angles to the horizon; upright

31. LYDIA CROCHETING IN THE GARDEN AT MARLY.
CASSATT 1880.

32. OTHER REFERENCES

http://www cartage. org. lb/en/themes/Arts/painting/principl-tech/art-

studio/interior/circles.htm

http://psych.hanover.edu/krantz/art/linear.html

http://www dartmouth.edu/-matc/math5 geometry/unit11/unit11 html

http://www myamericanartist.com/2006/12/linear perspect.html

Behind the Scenes with David Hockney - "Hosted by famous illusionists Penn and Teller, this
segment in a PBS art primer series for children offers insight into "how depth is created on a
flat surface." Using multiple animated and live-action examples, Penn and Teller cattily and
chattily illustrate principles of perspective, vanishing point, and composition." amazon.com
review

"Perspective is the rein and rudder of painting"
Leonardo da Vinci

Marsha Devine ©2008