perspective
Perspective is an art technique for creating an illusion of three-dimensions (depth and space) on a two-dimensional (flat) surface. Perspective is what makes a painting seem to have form, distance, and look "real". The same rules of perspective apply to all subjects, whether it's a landscape, seascape, still life, interior scene, portrait, or figure painting.
Perspective in Western art is often called linear perspective, and was developed in the early 15th century. The system uses straight lines to plot or figure out where things must go. (Think of it as light traveling in straight lines.) The Renaissance artist Leon Battista Alberti and architect Filippo Brunelleschi are credited with the "invention" of linear perspective. Alberti set out his theory in his book "On Painting," published in 1435. We're still using Alberti's one-vanishing-point system today! |
1 point |
2 point |
3 point ThreeMaybe you'll learn this in high school... but feel free to explore if you're into perspective!
|
The horizon line is an imaginary line used to create accurate perspective in a painting. Anything above the horizon line slopes down towards it, and anything below the horizon line slopes up towards it. Depending on what it is and how it is positioned, this may be very obvious or it may be very slight. Something that straddles the horizon line will slope both up and down. The horizon line is important because the painting's perspective is constructed from this.
Vanishing point is the spot on the horizon line to which the receding parallel lines diminish. It is what allows us to create drawings, paintings, and photographs that have a three-dimensional look.
Vanishing lines are imaginary lines used to create accurate perspective in a painting. They are drawn on the top and bottom horizontal edges of an object, along the object and then extended all the way to the horizon line.
Vanishing point is the spot on the horizon line to which the receding parallel lines diminish. It is what allows us to create drawings, paintings, and photographs that have a three-dimensional look.
Vanishing lines are imaginary lines used to create accurate perspective in a painting. They are drawn on the top and bottom horizontal edges of an object, along the object and then extended all the way to the horizon line.