Linear Perspective Scenes

It's all about the perspective...

Why do we need perspective? When did it start? Who first started using it? 

Italian artist and architect Filippo Brunelleschi was said to have been one of the first to use Linear Perspective back in 1415 along with fellow architect and writer Leon Battista Alberti in 1435. Although these are the first two credited for using it, belief is that based on the visual evidence in the art and architecture from the Greek and Roman periods, we know it existed in that time period, as well; however, no actual record existed of the use of linear perspective until the 15th century.

Using Brunelleschi's linear perspective, other artists took the front lines as becoming great masters at the technique, such as Leonardo Da Vinci and German artist Albrecht Durer (he actually created the two-point perspective technique). These two artists began using other techniques to bolster the perspective illusion such as foreshortening (which gives the illusion of objects coming straight at you while they get comically larger) and anamorphosis (this utilizes creating a distorted view of the original work but becomes morphed in to perspective when viewed at a different angle). Modern examples of anamorphosis is clearly evident and practiced in the 3D sidewalk chalk art of holes in the ground, building, etc. you see all over social media.

Perspective in any form is extremely mathematical, from its technique of measuring lines, calculating distances, and employing the Fibonacci sequence, which in turn allowed Op Artists to provide the world with stark contrasts within optical illusions on a two-dimensional surface.

LINEAR PERSPECTIVE

There are three main components to using linear perspective:

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino 

In Brunelleschi's system of perspective can be seen in all works of art. For example, in Raphael's great painting School of Athens (created to show the 10 pillars of Education... map of the painting is below), we can see a large mass of philosophers, artists, writers, artists, scientists, religious leaders, et al in a massive architectural display of grandeur that employs the use of linear perspective to its fullest extent. This painting marked the high point of Italian Renaissance while showcasing the figures of Raphael himself (center in the blue) and Socrates (center in the peach with beard, his left hand being the exact vanishing point for the entire painting).

Masaccio

Masaccio, born Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone in Florence, Italy, was considered the first great Italian artist of the Renaissance Quantrocento Period because he was able to master recreating life-like figures and representing nature in a way that appears three-dimensional on a flat surface. His painting of the Holy Trinity, thought to be painted in 1425-27 (only 24 years old), showcases linear perspective in its glory. This painting is in the Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella, in Florence and is said to be one of Masaccio's greatest paintings - and supposedly his last -- of his young life, dying at just 27 or 28 (his birth date is unknown).

The painting of the Holy Trinity, below, is shown with and without the perspective lines. In the one with the red and blue lines, you can see how used learn perspective: the red orthogonals (parallel lines) go back in to the distance from the vanishing point that sits on the blue horizon line.

The types of perspective techniques:

1 point perspective

1-point perspective is where the set of orthogonals all converge onto one vanishing point. The set of transversals that appear to be facing the artist stay vertical and horizontal. Please watch the video that demonstrates 1-point perspective.

2-point perspective

2-point perspective is where you have two vanishing points, typically on either end of the paper, that splits the artist's point of view to appear as if you're standing in the middle of the two vanishing points. The orthogonals merge back to each vanishing point depending on which direction they're going, and the transversals that remain are ONLY vertical. All horizontal lines now converge back, as well.

3-point perspective

In this technique, you have three vanishing points in which there are NO transversals: the multiple dimensions make the objects appear to be going back into the distance and towards you at the same time. All lines converge back to one of the vanishing points at any time

Cast Shadow Images

For every object, there is a mathematical and scientific way of figuring out where the cast shadow is going to lie on the surface and it varies based on the size of the object, the size of the light source, the placement of the light source, the distance of the light source from the object, and so on... please look at the reference images so you have an idea of how to get started.

TURN IT IN

Your assignment is to create a scene or environment of some sort that incorporates linear perspective in some manner. The type can be up to you: 1-pt, 2-pt, or 3-pt. If you feel adventurous, there are more points of perspective (4-pt, 6-pt... technically there's a 10-pt! And no, I have never done that...). 

The scene or environment does not have to make sense! It can be surreal, dreamlike, or just plain odd. It can be realistic, though, if you want to stick with a regular room or hallway, but it's always fun and exciting to try new things in your composition. In your composition, consider foreground, middle ground, background. If you are unsure about what those are or maybe have forgotten them, you can find them in the Painting I lesson on Watercolor Landscapes. Everything in front of you near the bottom of the paper is the foreground, all elements near the top of the paper that appears back in the distance is the background, and all the objects in the middle of the paper are part of the middle ground. Then, in your composition, you must incorporate some type of values, no matter the shading techniques or medium (colored pencil, regular pencil, marker, oil pastel, etc.).