1. How artists use perspective to show space
How Artists Trick Your Eye
How artists use perspective to show space

2. The Illusion of Depth
Two dimensional works of art can be done in a way that trick you eye to believe it is looking at a three dimensional surface.
Artists make use of many techniques that help them do this.

3. Areas of the Picture Plane
Picture Plane – the surface of a painting or drawing
Foreground – part of the picture plane that appears nearest to you
Background – part of the picture plane that appears farthest away
Middle ground – the area between the Foreground and Background

4. Helpful Terms for Creating Illusion of Depth
Perspective – a graphic system that creates the illusion of depth and volume on a two-dimensional surface
Overlapping – when one object covers part of a second object, the first appears to be closer to the viewer
Size – large objects appear to be closer than smaller objects
Placement – Objects placed low on the picture plane seem to be closer to the viewer than objects placed near eye level
Detail – Objects with clear, sharp edges and visible details appear closer than those with lack detail
Color – Brightly colored objects seem closer versus the ones that have dull, light colors
Converging Lines – As parallel lines move away from you, they appear to move closer together toward the horizon line.

5. Find the Perspective Tricks....
Detail?
Overlapping?
Converging Lines?
Color ?
Size?
Placement?
Doris Lee (1905 1983) Thanksgiving c Oil on canvas

6. Practice Linear Perspective

7. First Draw the horizon line
Horizon line is the line parallel to the horizon (where the earth and sky meet)

8. Next place a vanishing point somewhere on the horizon line
Vanishing point is the point on the horizon where receding parallel lines seem to meet

9. Now Draw a square in front of the horizon line and vanishing point

10. Now draw lines from the corners of the square that all converge at the vanishing point

11. Now draw lines that are parallel with the ones on your square
You have now turned your square into a cube!

12. Try this with a triangle…

13. Try this with a triangle…

14. Practice on your own
Draw at least 4 squares from different areas on your paper all going to the same vanishing point
Draw at least 3 other shapes
Try this with one right in front of the vanishing point – what is the difference?
Try a cityscape that all of the buildings and road go to one single vanishing point

15. Linear 1 point Perspective