This is a comprehensive explanation of 3 point linear perspective, that distills the most essential elements.
Hear a concrete breakdown of the process, including how to apply these skills into the context of an artwork, without your piece looking like a boring series of cubes in space!
Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu.
Video Walkthrough
- Linear perspective shows a specific point of view of a person who is in the space.
- Always think about being a person inside the space, and where your location is in relation to the structures in that space.
- 3 point perspective is a very dramatic, extreme point of view.
- Think about yourself in 3 point perspective as a bird who is hovering over a scene, or a worm who is on the floor looking upwards.
- It’s important to understand how 1, 2, and 3 point relate to each other, and how they are distinctly different from each other as well.
- In 3 point, the vanishing points are usually off the canvas.
- 3 point perspective is really not that big of a leap from 2 point perspective.
- The leap from 1 point to 2 point perspective is a lot more dramatic and tougher to make art first.
- Try to notice where you see 3 point perspective in real life.
- You can’t draw 3 point perspective if you can’t recognize it!
- 3 point perspective can be seen on a very small scale (a chair) or also on a grand scale like a skyscraper.
Prof Lieu’s Tips
When it comes down to it, linear perspective is simply connect-the-dots. Many people make linear perspective waaaaay more complicated than it needs to be, keep it simple!
A mistake I see is when people teach linear perspective too abstractly.
Not only is it super boring to just draw floating boxes with square windows, but I do really think getting from that to an actual drawing is tough for people to do.
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