One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (2024)

This article represents Part 2 of a mini-series that teaches you how to draw in perspective. We look into the drawing rules for the first type of perspective known as the One-Point Perspective.

In my previous article, I explained what 3D space means and how to generally capture the illusion of depth. I illustrated the main 3 types of perspective through simple and engaging drawing exercises using just some cubes.

So make sure you check out Part 1, the introduction article which presents the most important concepts and terminology.

What is one-point perspective?

One Point Perspective is the principle of drawing in three dimensions (a system of rules) that allows us to draw a direct frontal angle from a certain point of view in space. It’s actually the easiest type of perspective drawing that creates the illusion of depth. One point perspective is also known as One Vanishing Point Perspective or as Frontal Perspective

Every time you look straight ahead, sitting or standing, looking up or down, in an indoor or outdoor environment … What you see in front of your eyes it’s simply called One Point Perspective.

Who invented one-point perspective?

Before we start the exercises let’s have a quick art history approach. At least for curiosity without going into the details.

In Renaissance, around the year 1420 in Florence, Italy, Filippo Brunelleschi (1387-1446) trained as a goldsmith and clockmaker solved the big problem that was going on for centuries, artists were struggling to create convincing depth in their paintings, everything was flat or skewed since there wasn’t any universal system of perspective drawing.

However, before coming up with the rules of one-point perspective, Brunelleschi was already known as a genius for his creation of the Red Dome of Florence cathedral, the enormous octagonal dome weighed 25,000 tons, and when it was designed it was the largest one in the world. The dome is a masterpiece of architecture and engineering and even today there are many questions on how the ingenious solutions have been achieved.

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (1)

Filippo Brunelleschi is the one responsible for creating and demonstrating the laws of linear perspective, the drawing rules of one-point perspective. He basically revolutionized Renaissance art.

Brunelleschi discovered that when you draw a street or a building, all the straight-ahead horizontal lines seem to convert into a common point in space.

He presented the concept of a unified vanishing point, an imaginary construction point placed on the horizon line. This must have been like magic for the 15th century, to perceive a 3D space onto a flat surface, on a canvas with the most accurate precision.

Check out here a short video demonstrating Brunelleschi’s First Experiments in Perspective.

What are one-point perspective drawing rules?

One-point perspective represents a three-dimensional drawing that creates the illusion of depth as a direct frontal view. All objects appear smaller and closer to each other as they recede into the distance.

So the drawing rules for one-point perspective are:

  1. Eye Level or Horizon Line (HL). The height from which we look straight ahead, sitting, standing or, climbing, represents the Eye Level. We can also look above and below our Eye Level.
  2. Vanishing Point (VP). The drawing is constructed with only one vanishing point placed on the horizon line. The VP represents the imaginary point to which all lines facing the observer (perpendicular to the observer) converge.
  3. Convergence. All edges moving towards the observer (or camera) will converge to the only vanishing point
  4. Parallelism. All horizontal lines will remain horizontal and parallel among them. All vertical lines will remain vertical and parallel with each other.
  5. Diminution. All objects appear smaller as they recede into the distance, getting farther away from the observer.

Exercise 1. Analyze real photo references

The best way to get started with perspective drawing is by looking at real-life photography and breaking down all the rules. Reverse the engineering to a point that is ridiculous simple to you, to the point of your own personal level of understanding.

Use your own reference, take your own photos, indoor or outdoor, objects or full scenery because this way you can be very specific in your study.

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (3)

In my analysis, I specifically choose long and short frontal views but also during nighttime since it gives a better contrast between light and shade planes. This way it’s easier to notice the depth or space between the far away plane and the near one.

Start with the far-away plane, and come closer and closer towards the camera using the vanishing lines. You’ll easily recognize all the drawing rules.

So here’s a step-by-step analysis of a photo reference.

  • Step 1. Depth. Identify the farthest plane you can clearly see.
  • Step 2. Ground Plane. Identify the main convergent lines from each corner point from the distant plane to the nearest plane.
  • Step 3. Vanishing Rays. Identify more convergent lines which clearly seem to lead to a certain point in that faraway plane.
  • Step 4. Horizontal Lines. Identify the horizontal lines, the closer they are to the viewer, the more spread out in space they are.
  • Step 5. Vertical Lines. Identify the vertical lines, the closer they are to the viewer, the more spread out in space they are. Also, the lower the Horizon is the more they converge to a high vertical point.

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (4)

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (5)

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (6)

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (7)

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (8)

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (9)

Exercise 2. Draw objects in one-point perspective. Looking straight ahead, above and below.

What we see in front of our eye is difficult to make it feel real too on paper. Everything seems so complex, right? So you have to fight with that and look for its simplicity, for the way you capture the “illusion” of depth and space.

If you cannot draw large scenes in one-point perspective, draw small objects in a large variety of sizes, shapes, and from different heights.

My 3 recommended exercises are very simple. Practice the 3 different eye levels and just start with individual objects and not full scenery.

  1. Looking straight ahead (at a door).
  2. Looking straight and up (at a balcony).
  3. And Looking straight and down (at sidewalk pavements).

And some general guidelines to follow:

  • Pick some familiar props which have an obvious basic construction based on primitives forms (cylinders, cubes, and spheres).
  • Start with the horizon line, then with the far-away plane or the near-plane, and then (the one which is more obvious to you), build everything around that with vanishing lines.
  • When you finish the construction lines you can then add some subtle sketching details to give some context.

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (11)

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (12)

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (13)

Takeaway

Drawing has always been the method of visual representation, a powerful tool that allows us to capture what we see with an exact precision, just think of an architectural design or any kind of technical blueprint drawings. Architects and engineers are capable of creating drawings with exact mathematical precision.

As artists, we don’t need those mathematical calculations but we need to be able to create a believable illusion of depth and space.

Start where you’re comfortable and then speed up

Stay at a slow speed for a while, like a week or so, practice individual exercises, props, or objects that are familiar to you. Sketch those in perspective until you feel comfortable and then, gradually take it from there, create scenery by adding multiple elements.

Make your drawing style a personal system

Keep your exercise simple and don’t rush the fun of learning the fundamentals. Don’t focus on surface details such as colors, textures, or shading. Only try to get the construction in 3 dimensions with a nice illusion of depth.

Check out the behind-the-scenes of this sketch I made, which in fact implements one-point perspective rules withsketching techniques.

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (14)

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (15)

Related Drawing Articles

  • Practical Guide In Perspective Drawing. Part 1 – Types Of Perspectives
  • Get Started With Sketching In 8 Exercises. Warm-Ups For Eye-Hand Coordination

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

About Me

I'm an expert and enthusiast assistant designed to provide information and insights on a wide range of topics. I have been trained on a diverse range of data sources and have access to a vast amount of information. My responses are based on the most up-to-date and relevant information available at the time of the query.

As an expert and enthusiast, I have a deep understanding of various subjects, including art, history, and technical concepts. My knowledge is derived from a wide range of reputable sources, and I can provide detailed and accurate information on a variety of topics.

One-Point Perspective Drawing

One-point perspective is a fundamental principle of drawing in three dimensions that allows artists to create the illusion of depth from a direct frontal angle. It is considered the easiest type of perspective drawing and is also known as One Vanishing Point Perspective or Frontal Perspective.

Invention of One-Point Perspective

One-point perspective was revolutionized during the Renaissance period by Filippo Brunelleschi, an Italian architect and engineer. Around the year 1420 in Florence, Italy, Brunelleschi solved the longstanding problem of creating convincing depth in paintings by introducing the laws of linear perspective. He discovered that all straight-ahead horizontal lines in a drawing seem to converge into a common point in space, which led to the concept of a unified vanishing point placed on the horizon line. This breakthrough revolutionized Renaissance art and allowed artists to accurately depict 3D space on a flat surface.

Drawing Rules for One-Point Perspective

The drawing rules for one-point perspective are essential for creating a three-dimensional drawing that conveys the illusion of depth. These rules include:

  • Eye Level or Horizon Line (HL): Represents the height from which we look straight ahead, and it can vary based on the observer's position.
  • Vanishing Point (VP): The imaginary point to which all lines facing the observer converge, providing a sense of depth and distance.
  • Convergence: All edges moving towards the observer will converge to the vanishing point, creating the illusion of depth.
  • Parallelism: Horizontal lines remain parallel to each other, and vertical lines remain parallel to each other, maintaining the sense of perspective.
  • Diminution: Objects appear smaller as they recede into the distance, emphasizing the perception of depth.

Exercises for One-Point Perspective Drawing

To practice one-point perspective drawing, it's recommended to analyze real photo references and draw objects in one-point perspective. Analyzing real-life photography helps in understanding the application of drawing rules, while drawing objects in one-point perspective allows for practical application and skill development.

Exercise 1 involves analyzing real photo references, identifying depth, ground plane, vanishing rays, horizontal lines, and vertical lines to understand the principles of one-point perspective.

Exercise 2 focuses on drawing objects in one-point perspective from different eye levels, including looking straight ahead, up, and down. The exercises emphasize starting with individual objects and gradually progressing to more complex scenes.

Takeaway

Drawing in one-point perspective requires practice and attention to detail. It's essential to start with simple exercises and gradually progress to more complex scenes. By understanding the principles of one-point perspective, artists can create drawings that convey a believable illusion of depth and space.

Related Drawing Articles

For further exploration of perspective drawing, you may find the following related articles helpful:

  • "Practical Guide In Perspective Drawing. Part 1 – Types Of Perspectives"
  • "Get Started With Sketching In 8 Exercises. Warm-Ups For Eye-Hand Coordination"

By following these resources, you can enhance your understanding of perspective drawing and develop your skills in capturing depth and space in your artwork.

One point perspective drawing - Cristina Teaching Art (2024)

FAQs

What famous artists have one-point perspective drawing? ›

There are a lot of famous artists specialized in one-point perspective painting, such as Van Gogh, Claude Oscar Monet, Camille Pissarro, Canaletto and so on. Almost all famous painters used one-point perspective in their artworks. Examples: Wheatfield with Crows by Vincent van Gogh.

How is one-point perspective used in art? ›

One-point perspective is a drawing method that shows how things appear to get smaller as they get further away, converging towards a single “vanishing point” on the horizon line.

How do you practice one-point perspective drawing? ›

Begin one point perspective by drawing a horizon line. The next step in one point perspective is to place a vanishing point on the horizon line. Next, draw a box to represent the building that you want to draw in perspective. Now, draw lines from all four corners back to the vanishing point.

What are the 3 main components of one perspective drawing? ›

The basic elements of perspective drawing. In order to understand human perception, there are three important tools for perspective drawing: The horizon line, vanishing points, and vanishing lines.

Did Leonardo da Vinci use one-point perspective? ›

Leonardo used one point perspective, which involves all the lines in the painting converging in one place, known as the vanishing point. This strategy was used to emphasize the importance and central position of Christ. The lines all converge in his right eye, drawing the viewers gaze to this place.

Who was the first artist to use one point linear perspective in a painting? ›

In the early 1400s, the Italian architect Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446) reintroduced a means of rendering the recession of space, called linear perspective. In Brunelleschi's technique, lines appear to converge at a single fixed point in the distance.

What 2 things are required to do one-point perspective drawings correctly? ›

Key Points:
  • Surfaces that face the viewer are drawn using their true shape.
  • Surfaces that travel away from the viewer converge towards a single vanishing point.
Apr 2, 2023

What are the three principles of one-point perspective drawing? ›

So, these nine principles of one-point perspective in interior sketching are:
  • All the lines in your drawing are either horizontal, vertical, or recede to the vanishing point.
  • All horizontal lines are parallel to each other.
  • All vertical lines are parallel to each other.
Sep 7, 2021

What three lines are needed to draw one-point perspective? ›

There are three key lines to understand when creating a perspective drawing. As seen in the photos below, these three lines are converging lines, parallel lines, and perpendicular lines.

How to teach perspective drawing? ›

Begin with the square or rectangle closest to the vanishing point. Draw tangent lines from the corners of the square to the vanishing point. Because these are solid objects, if you run into a building while drawing, stop. Repeat these steps until all the shapes are in one-point perspective.

What is the law of perspective in art? ›

It is commonly used in art and design to create the illusion of depth and space on a two-dimensional surface. In order to achieve a sense of perspective, objects are drawn or painted in such a way that they appear to be getting smaller as they move further away from the viewer.

Who is famous for his use of perspective? ›

Leonardo learned the rules of perspective and practiced using the window as a device for drawing perspective correctly while he was an apprentice in Andrea del Verrocchio's studio.

Who is a famous perception artist? ›

  • M.C. Escher (1898-1972)
  • Salvador Dalí (1904-1989)
  • Octavio Ocampo (b. 1943)
  • Rob Gonsalves (1959-2017)
  • Patrick Hughes (b. 1939)

Who made 1 point perspective? ›

Filippo Brunelleschi was the first to explore and develop a one-point perspective system. By showing students various works of art produced during the 1420s, you can demonstrate how many artists tried out his ideas.

What are the examples of one-point perspective drawing? ›

Drawing in one point perspective is usually appropriate when the subject is viewed 'front-on' (such as when looking directly at the face of a cube or the wall of building) or when looking directly down something long, like a road or railway track.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Pres. Carey Rath

Last Updated:

Views: 5907

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Carey Rath

Birthday: 1997-03-06

Address: 14955 Ledner Trail, East Rodrickfort, NE 85127-8369

Phone: +18682428114917

Job: National Technology Representative

Hobby: Sand art, Drama, Web surfing, Cycling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leather crafting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.