Simple One Point Perspective Drawings & Adjustments
One point perspective drawings are the simplest type to do, but most resources don’t venture beyond the classic “straight road + telegraph poles disappearing into the distance” diagrams that are so often used to demonstrate it.
I found those diagrams singularly unhelpful, and perhaps you do, too?
They didn’t add anything to my knowledge
I already knew that things look smaller and parallel lines appear to converge the further away they are from you. But, so what? I wasn’t planning to draw those sorts of things.
In addition they didn’t give me any perspective principles to troubleshoot when a scene just didn’t look quite right. It took me quite a while to figure that out on my own.
So, in the interest of fast-tracking your learning I’m starting a Before and After series, troubleshooting real-life examples that have arisen in the Da Vinci cartooning course forum.
So, here’s our first ‘before’ One Point Perspective Drawing
There is nothing inherently wrong with this drawing.
(It’s a woman sitting at a counter or table, scoffing an outsize portion of chocolate mousse — it’s all good, right?) The question is, can we improve it?
And yes, we can make a simple tweak that adds depth and makes the surface in front of her look more 3D and horizontal. Part of the joy of drawing perspective in your cartoons is that it takes away the ‘flat’ 2D feeling and makes your viewers feel like they are part of the action.
Here it is after the small tweak…
What did I do?
I added the edges of the table, using one point perspective drawing principles. By showing the outer edges of the flat surface wide at the bottom edge of the page and narrowing as they meet the back edge of the table, we now have a more solid impression of depth and perspective in this simple drawing.
If you’re wondering “But how did she know it was one point perspective?” now is a good time to download my Perspective and Angle of View tip sheet here.
And there’s another simple post link for good measure: how do you know it’s one point perspective?
Now it’s your turn. Need answers?
If you are struggling with perspective drawing and feel there are more questions than answers, I’d love to hear from you — the more real-life examples I have, the more insights I gain.
It’s a win-win situation for both of us ?.