Chapter 2 | THE BLACK HOLE

In this chapter you start with arbitrary flight lines instead of a standard road or geometric tile floor.The only rule is that all lines that actually run in the same direction come together in one vanishing point on the horizon. The vanishing point is like a black hole or ‘singularity’ in the distance that swallows everything.

In the next fantasy drawing I did hardly anything else but drawing objects along random vanishing lines to a single central vanishing point.

Exercise 1: Also create a fantasy drawing with objects along pre-drawn, random vanishing lines to a single vanishing point on the horizon. Use a ruler. You can always add new vanishing lines as you go.

In my fantasy drawing, notice the placement of the three standing figures in the middle. It is exactly the same setup as in exercise 2 of the previous chapter, only this time without the tiled floor.

Exercise 2: In this exercise, I’ll show you step-by-step how you could construct a perspective drawing. Exact copying of my examples is certainly not necessary; so feel free to make other choices along the way.

Step 1: Draw two lines on the ground converging in one vanishing point on the horizon. It could be a road, a canal or the floor of an endless corridor. Choose a point on one of the flight lines and draw a vertical line from there that extends well above the horizon. The length of the vertical line determines the height of a wall, building or other object.

Step 2: Draw a perspective line from the top of the vertical line to the vanishing point. Now it seems like an endless wall. The thickness of the wall you are looking at should be drawn horizontally. Add some figures at eye level, with their feet along another perspective line.

Step 3: Divide the endless wall with vertical lines into smaller blocks/buildings. This way you get side streets for example. Determine the thickness of the wall/blocks. Add a few giant lollipops, with both their top and bottom along new flight lines. The giant lollipops can of course also be lampposts or simplified trees.

Step 4: draw some windows. The top and bottom edges of the windows again run towards the vanishing point.

Step 5: Finish your drawing off with shadow and/or color and maybe a fineliner. In my example, also cast shadows on the ground run along a line of flight.

The last image, a watercolor sketch,  shows a semi-open space with two figures both at eye level, one closer and one further away. It was not necessary to construct an tile floor first. A horizon, a vanishing point and a few perspective construction lines were enough. The construction lines are still clearly visible.

EXTRA: Create an indoor or outdoor space with a central vanishing point and one or more figures.