An Introduction to Perspective Concepts on This Site!

Perspective concepts and ideas that deal with how objects are arranged properly on a picture is an essential skill that all artists must possess.

This applies to whatever you’re drawing, whether it is drawing people, animals, or inanimate objects. But as you learn more, you will need to know how they will fit in their environment.

For this site, we will be focusing on four key terms that I will be using often to describe the perspective concepts being talked about.

1. The square and the cube

Your main unit of measurement will be the square or the cube. With it, you can learn how to properly build 3d shapes and objects.

This is because all shapes can be measured and sculpted from the cube. Depending on how many divisions, you can change 2d objects into 3d objects in space with relative ease.

Not only that, as soon as you make perspective lines leading up to vanishing points, you will see that it forms a perspective grid. From there, you can start building up the cubes to place your objects in

2. Horizon

The horizon is most important perspective concept because that is where we base and align every element on the picture towards.

The key word here is eye level. How does the object appear when it’s above you and below you? Where do you want the audience to look?

In addition to eye level, we will discuss false perspective horizons. Basically, these are multiple horizons that do not align with the true horizon.

Think of driving up a valley plateau. As you drive up, the horizon is pointing up towards the sky but you know the actual horizon of the earth is somewhere below your eye level.

3. Vanishing points

After all, what good is an object if you don't know what it will look like in perspective?

Most of us know the first point perspective. However, very few of us know multiple perspective points that go beyond three point perspectives. Fewer still know about zero point perspective.

These are challenging concepts but it is something we will address because the digital paintings that you can accomplish are rewarding once you figure it out!

4. Picture plane

What will your painting cover in terms of overall viewing area? These perspective concepts of a picture plane are helpful in prioritizing your painting.

Specifically, it will help you decide whether or not your vanishing points are within the picture plane or outside of the picture plane.

Vanishing points inside the picture plane creates an exaggerated proportion of all the objects you are painting.

However, vanishing points outside the canvas, while more correct, becomes harder to track because there are no reference points.

That’s where your digital art programs come in! Most will have some method of tracking these invisible points outside the picture plane.

If not, you can always do your vanishing points inside the canvas and then scale the perspective guidelines so it is outside your picture plane.

After you understand these four basic perspective concepts, apply them in learning to draw realistic objects on the computer through the lessons on this site.

Motivation and persistence is the key!