Today's class- The idea of drawing in perspective has existed throughout the history of art. Drawings are two dimensional artworks, and when they depict things that exist in the real world, which is three dimensional, there are going to be problems. When I showed the slide of that ancient cave drawing on a wall, everyone quickly identified the subject as a horse, a bit of success for a 15,000 year old drawing with no title, no artist statement. That's a lot of power for a line made with soot. Yet I doubt anyone in the room believed it was a real horse- it was a series of lines on a rock wall. One thing our unknown artist(s) did was indicate the two legs on the far side of the body with implied lines, technically not connected to the exterior contour of the horse as drawn, but put in about the right place so the viewer's brain can make the connection, and complete the image.
One of the inherent flaws of drawn images is that they can only approximate a three dimensional object or space, sacrificing reality in favor of communication. But they can communicate quite a lot, and during the renaissance, artists learned how to communicate a lot through drawing. Toward this end they developed perspective systems, applying advances in mathematics and physics to art, using a set of rules and standardized distortions to account for the missing third dimension in a two dimensional drawing. Today we will use a common perspective system to render a viewable three dimensional space and structure.
Slide Show-
giotto we saw this example last time, a skilled artist showing an understanding of space, but lacking a perspective system.
Raphael a painting done with one point perspective, to depict an imaginary piece of classical architecture suitable for this tribute to logic and order.
How to make this up- The assignment for this exercise is to draw the interior corner of a room. Normally we do this in the classroom in two point perspective, and there is a student example at the top of this blog post, a typical Vaughn-Eames classroom. Since we can't be there this semester, you'll have to choose a room wherever you are sheltering.
Back when I first leaned two point perspective drawing, we covered the basics for showing an exterior corner (two point works very well with architecture), then were taken outside to render the outside of a cantilevered campus building in that system. While still sitting there in the field, we were given a weekend homework assignment to draw an interior corner in two point perspective, but no further instruction. That Sunday there were a lot of desperate first year art students trying to figure it out, calling each other, not easy in the age before cell phones had been invented (or the internet) and most dorms did not permit land lines in the rooms, leaving us just rotary dialed extensions in the hallways. (if you don't know how a rotary dial works, ask an older relative- they may know) I decided that if renaissance Italians could figure it out, this 20th century Italian could look at drawings, look at rooms, and figure it out. And eventually I did, spread the word on our phones, and we all got through the assignment. I'm going to make it a little easier for you.
Start with a piece of blank paper. A page from your 18"x24" pad works well, but whatever you got. Choose a pencil that you like- you may need to erase, so pencil is better than pen. You will also need some kind of straight edge, larger is better. In class I bring in an assortment of yard sticks for the class to share, inherited from my hardware store owning grandfather. Some are even printed with the name of the store, the products, and the phone number- CAstle 3-3464. (how do you dial that? ask that same older relative)
First step is to draw in a horizon line, also known as eye level. To make it simpler, put it near the center of the paper. Near each end mark points that will function as vanishing points (VP in my diagram) If it helps, look at all the images first and see where you are going.
The next step is to put in a vertical line to represent the corner of your drawn room, which should be perpendicular to your horizon/eye level line. The top and bottom ends of the line represent the ceiling and floor corners, so you can estimate how far it extends above and below your eye level. Leave room around it for the eventual wall lines.
To create the lines that represent the top and bottom of the wall itself, place your straight edge so that it rests on one of the vanishing points, continues across to one of the top or bottom ends of your wall corner vertical line, then use the pencil to mark how that line continues across the page past that wall corner. Do the same at the other end, then move your straight edge to the other vanishing point and complete the ceiling and floor lines of the opposite wall. Keep in mind that all horizontal lines that make up a wall, and anything parallel to that wall, must point to a vanishing point on the other side of the paper. The V shapes at the top and bottom are because of how things are perceived to diminish. (I left out the floor line on the right to leave room for furniture I'll be drawing in later) In most rooms the ceilings are parallel to the floor, and the wall height should be identical along its length, but in viewing the corner, it is the farthest thing from you in the room, so the wall feels smaller there, thus you show it as smaller.
Your drawing must include a door, so choose a room that has one. Remember that any horizontal line on a wall must vanish to the same point used to make the wall itself. Lay your straight edge down so it is along the opposite vanishing point, crosses the corner line, and then use it to mark the top of your doorway. Estimate by observation how far it is from the corner to the door, the width of the door, and the space between the door top and ceiling, and draw in that line. (these are all negative space, but you are drawing the lines of architecture) Then draw the two verticals that join the top of the door to the floor.
You must show something on the opposite wall. Can be a framed object, a poster, a window- whatever you got. Since it is on the wall, you use the vanishing point on the other side of the paper as your starting point. Probably doesn't go all the way to the floor, so you'll have to draw a bottom edge as well, but otherwise it's the same process as drawing a door.
Making a piece of furniture (dresser, desk, book case, table, or whatever you have) on one wall is a little more complicated, but by now you are a pro and can handle it. Estimate where it will go, and put in the line that shows where it sits against the wall. Anything on that wall must vanish to the point on the opposite wall. Edges that are perpendicular to that edge along the wall (and thus parallel to the opposite wall) must vanish to the other vanishing point, the one on the same wall. A straight edge that connects the left side vanishing point to the first line out from the wall shows where to put the front edge of the furniture. Draw that line in.
Last step is to finish the furniture. Vertical lines connect the top corners of the furniture to the floor, and the two vanishing points that made each top edge will show you where to put the bottom edges. And that is all you have to do, and now you know how to render the inside of a room in two point perspective.
My example is imaginary but yours should be real. I won't be there to see the room itself, so I will have to trust your estimates for sizes and locations. Your drawing must include the corner, ceiling and floor lines, a doorway, something on the wall, and a piece of furniture. This is a portfolio exercise, due by the last day of class, just a few weeks away. This is the last portfolio exercise of the semester.
Homework- Nothing new, but if you are past due on your paper or the comic strip, you should get moving. Our last class is on May 8, 2020, so that ends the semester.
For next class May 1, 2020- We will be starting the final project, a 3D assemblage sculpture, making use of another one of those 4 phrases you were sent a few weeks ago. Examples will go up during the week. Details and more images to be posted that day.
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