LINEAR AND AERIAL PERSPECTIVE

(swipe the image back and forward to view)

PERSPECTIVE DRAWING is a technique used to represent three-

dimensional images on a two-dimensional picture plane. In our
series of lessons on perspective drawing we explain the various
methods of constructing an image with perspective and show how
these are used by artists and illustrators.

"Perspective is to painting what the bridle is to the horse, the rudder

to a ship……………..There are three aspects to perspective. The first has
to do with how the size of objects seems to diminish according to
distance: the second, the manner in which colors change the farther
away they are from the eye; the third defines how objects ought to be
finished less carefully the farther away they are." (Leonardo da Vinci)

Perspective was developed in the 15th century by the architects,

Leon Baptista Alberti (1404-72) and Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-
1446). For 500 years, perspective drawing remained one of the basic
principles of Western art until it was challenged by the ideas of
the Cubists at the start of the 20th century. Whether you are
working with conventional materials such as pencils and paints or
contemporary digital media, a knowledge and understanding of
perspective drawing remains an essential tool to help you enhance
your drawing technique.

There are two main elements in perspective drawing:

 LINEAR PERSPECTIVE which deals with the organisation of

shapes in space.

 AERIAL PERSPECTIVE (also called ATMOSPHERIC

PERSPECTIVE) which deals with the atmospheric effects on
tones and colours.

You can see how both of these elements work in our illustration
above of some ancient ruins. The black and white image displays an
example of Linear Perspective. It shows some of the lines of
construction used to arrange the blocks and columns to create an
illusion of depth and distance.

If you swipe across the black and white image it will reveal a colored
and textured rendering of the scene. This displays the atmospheric
effects of Aerial Perspective. You can see how the tones weaken and
the colours pale as they recede from your view. Both linear and
aerial perspectives combine to create this convincing illusion of
three dimensions on a two dimensional plane.

PERSPECTIVE DRAWING MENU

Linear / Aerial Perspective

The Picture / Ground Plane

 Horizon / Eye Level

One Point Perspective

Two Point Perspective

Three Point Perspective

Perspective of a Circle

Perspective of a Cylinder
A Central Eye-Level

A High Eye-Level

A Low Eye-Level
Geometry in Art