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Taking it Even Farther: Multiple Point Perspective!So far, we have looked at one, two, and three point perspectives. Multiple point perspective takes those perspectives and expands on them. Most artists don’t deal a lot with multiple vanishing points as there are very little opportunities to use them.However, if the artist does decide to use multiple point perspective, it gives the artist the opportunity to get out of the natural world around them and to use his or her imagination to its limits! Let’s look at how perspective goes beyond the simple one, two, and three point. We will start by looking at four point perspective. So, get out your graphics program and let’s do some more perspective guide lines to learn about multiple point perspective. 1. Taking it farther with four point perspectiveYou will begin with the two point perspective. This time, instead of creating one right angle triangle, you will create two of them. And when you combine the two right angle triangles, you will get a square! Obviously, you will draw perspective lines going to each appropriate vanishing point. I’ll give you a minute to do that. Are you all done? It’s easy, right? The next thing we need to do is to use the 90 degree angle on each triangle and we’re going to make oval guide lines. Before you start panicking, it’s easy to make them. Most graphical programs will have a tool to make an oval. Some require two steps. If your graphics art program has a grid system in place, make sure to view it or turn it on! You will find that it will help you get the right starting points to do the oval shapes! For example, you can make an oval in Photoshop with the marquee tool. Then, you need to go to edit > stroke. This will create a tangible outline to your circular shape instead of filling it in. Turning my grid options on will make sure the oval snaps to the correct points.
If everything goes well, it should look like a square diamond surrounded by various oval shapes. Now that we know how to make it, where can this perspective exist? Well, just think for a second. You need to see the bottom perspective first. That means you are looking down on an object. That means you are not on ground level but somewhere in the air. Yet, there is an object that seems to reach for the heavens. It goes even higher than where you are! This object will seem to ‘curve’ upwards because there is a vanishing point located above you. This is when you will see this perspective: when a tall object exists on the ground level, and yet, reaches high enough that it goes beyond your eye level. What about setting up a picture plane canvas? Well, it’s easy. Just make sure that it stays within the square diamond and you’ll be fine. Again, remembering to stay within the diamond guarantees you won’t be distorting the measuring squares in the multiple point perspective! 2. There is a five point perspective?Yep! There is a five point perspective. To learn it, you don’t actually start with the two point perspective. Instead, you will start with the circle that you did in your four point perspective in this multiple point perspective.This is where you get to learn to use your layers! Just duplicate your circle to a different layer. Then, you need to rotate the new layer 90 degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise. You should have a circular grid with four points of perspective: one for each ‘corner’ of the circle. From there, start another layer. This time, we’re going to incorporate the fifth perspective point! Start from one end of the canvas and create a line to the other end of the canvas. Repeat the process again and again, making sure each line intersects at the center of the circle. If you haven’t guessed it yet, we’re doing a simple one point perspective inside the circular grid!
Does this shape look familiar? It should! Just think for minute. Where would this shape exist in the natural world? I can think of planets or a concaved or convex mirror with this shape. What can you think up? It’s a very useful shape that we all know. Of course, the next step would be deciding on a picture plane. This perspective has a lot more freedom. You can set the canvas inside the circle or you can set outside the circle. You can even encompass the entire circle! 3. More perspective points to learn?The answer is yes and no. It really is up to you. In the multiple point perspective we have talked about, you’re viewing the scene in front of you. Whether it’s one point or five point perspectives, the object is in front of your eyes. However, there is a six point perspective. This where you look at things in front of you and behind you! Basically, you’re trying to convey a 360 degree view, in an instance, on paper. One way to do that is to make the five point perspective sphere transparent so it allows you to look on the ‘other side’ of the hemisphere. Another way is to cut the sphere and draw two of them side by side with the correct images reflecting what you see in front of you and what you see behind you. Because of this, artists rarely use the six point perspective. If you’re up to the challenge, then go ahead with learning this multiple point perspective on your canvas! It would be for your own thirst for knowledge rather than practicality. Otherwise, stay motivated to learn and build up on the concepts we have discussed up to this point. Return from Multiple Point Perspective to Digital Art Techniques.
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