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How do I understand perspective?
I like to draw, but perspective is something I can never get. Where exactly should I start, and where will it make an improvement?
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7 answers
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Kim’s Answer
Hi Denise,
There are a bunch of tutorials on YouTube that you can check out. I'd suggest finding something that teaches you the terms Tricia mentions above while showing you how to draw in perspective. I Googled "perspective drawing lessons" to find them. And depending on which software you're using, you may have some tools available to draw objects in perspective; looking at how those work might help you understand as well. While you're at it, you might also look at some images of Renaissance paintings by Leonardo DaVinci and Raphael, who pioneered the use of perspective to bring their paintings to life.
Hope this helps!
There are a bunch of tutorials on YouTube that you can check out. I'd suggest finding something that teaches you the terms Tricia mentions above while showing you how to draw in perspective. I Googled "perspective drawing lessons" to find them. And depending on which software you're using, you may have some tools available to draw objects in perspective; looking at how those work might help you understand as well. While you're at it, you might also look at some images of Renaissance paintings by Leonardo DaVinci and Raphael, who pioneered the use of perspective to bring their paintings to life.
Hope this helps!
Updated
Kapgang’s Answer
Think of perspective as a special trick to make your drawings look real and three-dimensional. Start by drawing a horizon line, which is where the sky meets the ground. Choose a vanishing point on this line. Practice by drawing roads or railroad tracks that meet at this point. This helps you see how things look smaller as they move away. Once you master this, your drawings will look more realistic and lively, like a photo. Perspective adds depth to your art, turning flat drawings into scenes that pop out and invite viewers in. Keep practicing, and you'll quickly notice a big improvement in how your art tells a story!
Updated
Kapgang’s Answer
Imagine perspective like a secret trick to make your drawings look three-dimensional. Start with a simple idea: draw a horizon line (where the sky meets the ground) and pick a vanishing point on that line. Then, practice drawing roads or railroad tracks that seem to come together at that point. This will help you understand how objects get smaller as they go farther away. Once you get the hang of it, your drawings will look more realistic and alive, just like a photo. Perspective is like giving your art depth—so instead of flat drawings, you'll create scenes that jump out and invite people to step right into them. Keep practicing, and soon you'll see a big improvement in how your art tells a story!
Updated
Tricia’s Answer
Understanding perspective, especially in art and visual representation, involves grasping how objects appear smaller as they recede into the distance, and how they’re placed within a scene based on the viewer’s point of view. It’s the technique that allows artists to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you understand perspective:
1. Vanishing Points
What are they? A vanishing point is where parallel lines seem to converge as they get farther away. It’s based on the viewer’s eye level.
Single-point perspective: All lines that run parallel to each other (like railroad tracks) meet at one single point on the horizon.
Two-point perspective: Here, two vanishing points are used to show objects at an angle. Think of a building corner in the distance.
Three-point perspective: This involves three vanishing points and is often used to depict scenes from a high or low angle, like looking up at a skyscraper or down at a city street.
2. Horizon Line
The horizon line is where the ground meets the sky. In two-point or three-point perspective, it also helps determine the position of the vanishing points.
If you’re drawing a street scene, the horizon line represents the eye level of the viewer.
3. Converging Lines
Objects (especially straight ones) appear to get smaller and closer together as they recede into the distance. This is why roads, railways, or rows of trees seem to converge toward the vanishing point.
4. Foreshortening
This refers to objects that appear compressed or distorted when viewed from a particular angle. For instance, if you look at an object from above, the top part will appear smaller, and the bottom part will seem larger, creating a sense of depth.
5. Overlap and Size Difference
Overlapping objects are a natural way to show depth in a scene. The object in front partially covers the one behind it.
Size variation is key—objects that are farther away will look smaller than those close to you. So a large tree in the foreground will appear bigger than a smaller tree further back.
6. Atmospheric Perspective
This is the technique of making distant objects appear lighter in color, less detailed, and slightly blurry, as if they’re being affected by the atmosphere. It mimics how we perceive distant landscapes in real life.
7. Practice
The more you practice drawing or observing perspective, the better you'll understand how things are arranged in space. Try sketching scenes with simple shapes, gradually adding complexity as you get comfortable with how objects shrink, overlap, and recede.
If you're practicing with drawing, you could start by drawing simple cubes or boxes using one or two vanishing points to understand the mechanics of perspective. Want some examples or a more specific guide to drawing using perspective?
1. Vanishing Points
What are they? A vanishing point is where parallel lines seem to converge as they get farther away. It’s based on the viewer’s eye level.
Single-point perspective: All lines that run parallel to each other (like railroad tracks) meet at one single point on the horizon.
Two-point perspective: Here, two vanishing points are used to show objects at an angle. Think of a building corner in the distance.
Three-point perspective: This involves three vanishing points and is often used to depict scenes from a high or low angle, like looking up at a skyscraper or down at a city street.
2. Horizon Line
The horizon line is where the ground meets the sky. In two-point or three-point perspective, it also helps determine the position of the vanishing points.
If you’re drawing a street scene, the horizon line represents the eye level of the viewer.
3. Converging Lines
Objects (especially straight ones) appear to get smaller and closer together as they recede into the distance. This is why roads, railways, or rows of trees seem to converge toward the vanishing point.
4. Foreshortening
This refers to objects that appear compressed or distorted when viewed from a particular angle. For instance, if you look at an object from above, the top part will appear smaller, and the bottom part will seem larger, creating a sense of depth.
5. Overlap and Size Difference
Overlapping objects are a natural way to show depth in a scene. The object in front partially covers the one behind it.
Size variation is key—objects that are farther away will look smaller than those close to you. So a large tree in the foreground will appear bigger than a smaller tree further back.
6. Atmospheric Perspective
This is the technique of making distant objects appear lighter in color, less detailed, and slightly blurry, as if they’re being affected by the atmosphere. It mimics how we perceive distant landscapes in real life.
7. Practice
The more you practice drawing or observing perspective, the better you'll understand how things are arranged in space. Try sketching scenes with simple shapes, gradually adding complexity as you get comfortable with how objects shrink, overlap, and recede.
If you're practicing with drawing, you could start by drawing simple cubes or boxes using one or two vanishing points to understand the mechanics of perspective. Want some examples or a more specific guide to drawing using perspective?
Updated
Fallon’s Answer
Perspective is within you.
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Hi Denise, I see you have one answer already that goes into quite a lot of great and descriptive detail. If that feels overwhelming, I would start with a basic one-point perspective. That is the simplest to follow, and if you can master that, the rest will come with practice. Have you taken any perspective drawing classes? I found in my schooling, that this was the most helpful in terms of practical skills and the application of them. I'm not sure what medium you work with (drawing, painting, graphics, interior design or architecture), but this is a great book:
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Perspective-Ultimate-Artists-Medium/dp/1581808550/ref=sr_1_5?crid=25RYWE0OTUW3P&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HwT_ksXsoRhGJoaNdXbzOpn0IWCXExtrk21xE9c1pEAxNQK-5p3ZuJ3O_tEnqHhRB-jhtD3DjDE4hZNVArfDYkgvdj2Xe9n9dhO0IyEFmyixwnxc_NNRFDf6oExgyLGxZyC3_B1tttKG22dyjZjI8Ezl_30ehFkLhQEJPJ4wIt2sOMOvjughXh0gdrpwET_7DgYaaM0w50EHkBMS5ZT3fD3oUqrlKFK68M7NIgsSOdc.vTBwDexDuOLwxI5T00H4rpMQawnhOrWfN6-jZO8o8Hg&dib_tag=se&keywords=books+on+perspective+drawing&qid=1742404885&sprefix=Books+on+perspecit%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-5
Remember, start simple and build from there!
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Perspective-Ultimate-Artists-Medium/dp/1581808550/ref=sr_1_5?crid=25RYWE0OTUW3P&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HwT_ksXsoRhGJoaNdXbzOpn0IWCXExtrk21xE9c1pEAxNQK-5p3ZuJ3O_tEnqHhRB-jhtD3DjDE4hZNVArfDYkgvdj2Xe9n9dhO0IyEFmyixwnxc_NNRFDf6oExgyLGxZyC3_B1tttKG22dyjZjI8Ezl_30ehFkLhQEJPJ4wIt2sOMOvjughXh0gdrpwET_7DgYaaM0w50EHkBMS5ZT3fD3oUqrlKFK68M7NIgsSOdc.vTBwDexDuOLwxI5T00H4rpMQawnhOrWfN6-jZO8o8Hg&dib_tag=se&keywords=books+on+perspective+drawing&qid=1742404885&sprefix=Books+on+perspecit%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-5
Remember, start simple and build from there!
Updated
Kari’s Answer
If you're having trouble with perspective and don't want to shell out some money for, say, a website like Skillshare, I have a cheap solution for you.
Your phone.
That's right, go out and take pictures! Images are the very thing that help people learn perspective! Find just an ordinary object outside (better if it's your dog or something that doesn't sit still) and if you can, walk around it taking pictures from every side. Up, down, all around the object and presto! You have your own little gallery of 'perspective' reference images to give you a good idea on what you should do. This is great if you struggle with lighting as well or color differentiation.
Studying the world around you, whether in real-time or via images is how the best of artists have been learning for centuries before art was ever taught in any school.
Your phone.
That's right, go out and take pictures! Images are the very thing that help people learn perspective! Find just an ordinary object outside (better if it's your dog or something that doesn't sit still) and if you can, walk around it taking pictures from every side. Up, down, all around the object and presto! You have your own little gallery of 'perspective' reference images to give you a good idea on what you should do. This is great if you struggle with lighting as well or color differentiation.
Studying the world around you, whether in real-time or via images is how the best of artists have been learning for centuries before art was ever taught in any school.