Chapter 1 | INTRODUCTION

Perspective drawing allows you to suggest depth on a flat surface. Reduction is key: objects that are further away are drawn smaller. In this drawing, two figures are waving to each other. The figure on the left is drawn much smaller so that it appears further away from our point of view.

Exercise: Turn this situation around; now draw the figure in front of the house further away. Of course you can create other figures and another house.

In the next drawing, the depth is much stronger. We find ourselves right behind the figure in front of the house, looking over his shoulder. He is so close that only his happily surprised face fits within the frame. The distant horizon places both figures on the ground. The curving line shows the connection between near and far.

Exercise: Turn this situation around too; the person coming or leaving home is now very close. Adjust his/her facial expression to reflect what you want to convey, because a farewell wouldn’t be a happy one, of course.

Perspective drawings usually use a frame (the border around the drawing). The frame is an imaginary window through which we can look outward or inward.