Drawing in perspective: basics

In short: Perspective makes a flat drawing look three-dimensional. The basis are the horizon line and vanishing points towards which parallel lines converge.

In more detail: Linear perspective was developed in the Renaissance, for example by Brunelleschi and Alberti.

In detail

• Horizon: The viewer’s eye level; everything above it is seen from below, everything below it from above.
• One-point perspective: All depth lines converge on one vanishing point (street, corridor).
• Two-point perspective: Building seen from the corner, two vanishing points.
• Three-point perspective: Additionally a point for extreme high or low view.
• Size and overlap: Distant things are smaller and are covered.
• Atmospheric perspective: Distance looks paler and bluer.
• Practice: Begin with cubes, then draw rooms and buildings.
• Aids: Ruler, pencil, grid (bildkomposition-goldener-schnitt).