One Point Perspective

One point perspective is a great way to draw an optical illusion.  The illusion of 3D form on a flat 2D surface creates the optical illusion of space and depth. There are many steps to this project.  First students had to draw a horizon line in the middle of the page, then add a vanishing point in the center of that time.  Next, students added their shapes which takes four steps:

1. Draw the shape you want.
2. Connect open corners from the shape to the vanishing point.
3. Draw parallel lines in each side to end the shape.
4. Erase the extra guidelines between the shape and the vanishing point.

During this process we also talked about different types of balance in art.  All artwork has some kind of balance.  In this project, we wanted to create even balance.  Students were challenged to make enough shapes to fill in the letters of their name and to balance those shapes to achieve even balance.  Students also learned how to make their block or bubble letters "fit" into the shapes.

Next, we addressed the background.  We wanted a pattern in the background to visually separate the 3D shapes from the background, and to make the background interesting to look at.  Students began with some lines to break up the background into an even number of spaces, all intersecting the vanishing point.  Then students could select whichever shapes they wanted to draw to overlap the background lines.  This set up an interesting background that could be colored as a pattern.  Once this was done, students traced all these lines with sharpie.

Finally, students learned about some color theory.  Warm colors are perceived to come out towards us as viewers and cool colors are perceived to recede away from us as viewers.  Obviously, to enhance the optical illusion, students learned to use warm colors in the 3D shapes/letters and cool colors in the patterned background.  Using color in this way really helps to visually separate the 3D shapes from the background.

One Point Perspective in Progress!

We have been learning a lot in our one point perspective unit, much more than just learning how to draw shapes in 3D!  Throughout this until students also learn about balance, pattern, color theory (warm/cool colors), and the importance of craftsmanship in their art work.

Here's the order of learning in this unit:

1. One point perspective, making 3D shapes on a flat 2D surface.
2. Balance, spreading shapes around evenly on the viewing surface.
3. Pattern, developed in the background.
4. Color, warm colors vs. cool colors.
5. Craftsmanship, very important from start to finish!