Linear Perspective drawing Techniques understanding and Aerial Perspective

Perspective drawing is a technique used to represent three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional picture plane. In our series of lessons on perspective drawing we describe various methods to build an image with perspective and show how this is used by artists and illustrators.

There are three aspects of perspective: The first relates to how the size of the object seems to be reduced in accordance with the distance, the second, the way in which changes color the farther they are from the eyes to the three objects define how it should be done inadvertently further they are "(Leonardo da Vinci)

Perspective was developed in the 15th century by the architect, Leon Baptista Alberti (1404-1472) and Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446). For 500 years, a perspective remains one of the basic principles of Western art until challenged by the ideas of the Cubists at the beginning of the 20th century. Are you working with conventional materials such as pencils and paints, or a contemporary digital media, knowledge and understanding of perspective drawing remains an important tool to help you improve your drawing techniques.

There are two main elements in a perspective:

•      Linear perspective relating to the organization of forms in space
•      Aerial perspective related to atmospheric effects on tone and color.

You can see how these two elements work in our illustration above some ancient ruins:

Black and white pictures showing examples of Linear Perspective. It shows some construction lines used to set the blocks and columns to create an illusion of depth and distance.

If you mouse over the black and white images should reveal colored and textured version of the scene. It displays the atmospheric effects Aerial Perspective. You can see how the weaker tone and pale colors as they retreated from your view.

Both linear and aerial perspective combine to create a convincing illusion of three dimensions on a two dimensional plane.

Plane Image and Plane Office

Picture Plane is a flat two-dimensional surface where we draw or project an image in perspective.

In the above illustration, it is a simple task to draw two rectangles if they are parallel to the image plane.

Ground Plane at 90 degrees to the plane of the image.

In our illustration, the ground plane is gray surface where the shapes seem to stand. This is emphasized by the shadow cast over it. Starting at the bottom of the picture plane and stretching back to the horizon.

The difficulty in drawing a second rectangle appears when you need to describe them at an angle to the plane of the image. This is where the rules of perspective drawing comes into play.

Mouse over the image to see how perspective changes when viewed at the corner of the rectangle.

They are now seen at an angle of 90 degrees to the plane of the picture as they recede along the ground plane. This creates the illusion of depth. They are no longer identical shape and has been changed in accordance with the rules of perspective.

The following pages we outline some of the essential principles of perspective drawing.