Drawing with Perspective

Perspective drawings re create the way our eyes really work, but does not rely on direct observation.  Pre-Renaissance  and Renaissance artists like Giotto  and DaVinci figured out how this works.

Its been a while since students used perspective in my class. I introduce t-squares for verticals, a triangle for horizontals, and using rulers for orthogonal (lines that go to the Vanishing Point) then  all the rules of perspective:

Rules of 1 Point Perspective

1.  As things go back in space, they go to a Vanishing Point (V.P.)

2.  Front and back edges match/go the same direction.

3. On round objects, the outermost point connects to the V.P.

4.  If something gets in between an orthogonal and the V.P. the the line stops (overlapping)

5.  As things go back in space they get smaller

Vocabulary:

Vertical-lines that go up and down

Horizontal- lines that go left and right

Orthogonal- lines that lead to the Vanishing Point.

We make 3 projects, 2 class hours each.  After this quick start, students finish one to a higher degree, finishing details and adding color.

Rubric:

Correct Perspective              40 points

Color                                    20

Use of all Space                   20

Craftsmanship                      20

total                                      100 points

Here are some of the results:

1 point perspective cities and rooms

Students followed up their name drawing project with a fairly intense double drawing:  Use perspective to draw a cityscape and a room.  In both cases, students could choose whatever they wanted to go into the city or room.  Here are the rules of perspective we cover and reiterate as we work:

1. When an object goes back in space, lines go back to the Vanishing Point (VP).

2. On round objects, you connect the outermost point to the VP (this is hard to describe)

3. If something gets in between your line and the VP, then the line stops. (overlapping rule)

4.  Front and Back edges match.  (they go same direction.  same for top and bottom.)

5. As things go back in space they appear smaller.

We also covered vertical, horizontal, diagonal and orthagonal.

We used t-squares and triangles to create true verticals and horizontals, which most of the students had never used before.

1 point perspective names

We are drawing our names using 1 point perspective.  Here is how we go through that.  

1.  We use a template to trace our letters.  I found a block alphabet and printed it large on 11x 17 paper.  I also drew a top and bottom registration line on them so the students could line them up.  Here is the two templates.

2.  The names have to have at least 5 letters.  Students draw a vanishing point far below in the middle of the name under, also, they trace their ruler under the name to help form some parts of the back edges.

3.  Students draw the orthagonals, the lines heading to the VP.

4. All along the way, I start introducing the basic rules of 1 point perspective.  Here they all are together.

1 Point perspective Rules:

1.  When objects go back in space, the lines go back to the Vanishing Point (V.P.)

2.  On round objects, the outermost point gets connected to the V.P.

3. If something gets between the line and V.P., then the line stops (overlapping.)

4. Front and back edges match (go same direction.)

5. As things go back in space, they appear to get smaller. 

5.  Students have 2 out of 3 parts then.  Fronts and Sides, missing the back edges.  Rule 4 and 5 help to explain how these are finished.

6.  Students embellish the fronts using the worksheet I downloaded from www.awesomeartists.com.

7.  As time allows, students should also add an interesting background.

Here are some of the results.