Point Perspective

By: Eric ConnerChristina Hunerkoch

Jennifer SamuelsAnthony Scott

What is point perspective?

• Linear perspective is a way of putting a “three dimensional object on a two dimensional surface”

• Linear perspective was first painted by Masaccio in 1427 in his painting Trinity

• www.cord.edu/faculty/andersod/masaccio.html

Different types of perspective?

• There are six types of point perspective.• These include one point perspective through six

point perspective, each getting more mathematically complicated but more accurate as you add on additional points.

• Perspectives 1 through 3 are similar because they use straight lines to show depth.

• Number 4through 6use curved lines.• 6 point perspective is best represented when

painted on a sphere.

First… What is a vanishing point?

• A vanishing point is a point in a drawing used as a guide when drawing objects as they fade into the distance

James T. Saw, Space Part 2 – Perspective, 2002

One Point Perspective

• “One point perspective takes one of the three sets of parallel lines of the cube and projects them to a point, a VANISHING POINT. We will say this is the North direction. The other two sets of lines of the cube continue to run parallel and unaltered. This vanishing point can also be considered where your eye is located in relation to objects found on this page. This location of the eye or (vanishing point) becomes the place where cubes shift across in space to show their opposite side, from right to left and from above you to below you.”

One Point Perspective

Dick Termes, " New Perspective Systems. Termespheres

One Point Perspective

Rita Crane Photography, Flickr, 2007

Two Point Perspective

• Two-point perspective uses two different sets of parallel lines.

• These vanishing points are pointing to the north and east or the left side and right side of the page.

• Notice the vertical lines are still parallel to each other.

• Two-point perspective is very easy to spot in everyday life

Two Point Perspective

Dick Termes, " New Perspective Systems. Termespheres

Two Point Perspective

Saint Plan, Flickr, 2007

Three Point Perspective

• The three-point perspective adds a third vanishing point in either the Zenith or Nadir direction.

• It is called a “Nadir” point when it is added below you.

• It is called a “Zenith” point when it is added above you

Three Point Perspective

Dick Termes, " New Perspective Systems. Termespheres

Three Point Perspective

Frankz, Flickr, 2006

Four Point Perspective

• More complicated than previous point perspectives.• Introduces the use of curved lines.• Looking at a very tall cube, it would project above

and below our eye level. These up and down lines project toward two points, zenith and nadir.

• The cube will look fat in the middle of the curved lines have the same effect as the shape of a football.

• A skyscraper is a good example.

Four Point Perspective

Dick Termes, " New Perspective Systems. Termespheres

Four Point Perspective

Nionicle, flashkit, 2004

Five Point Perspective

• Creates a circle on a canvas or plane that can illustrate 180 degrees of visual space

• Imagine looking through a transparent sphere. This is the same concept.

• The hemisphere, on paper, would have to show five vanishing points.

Five Point Perspective

Dick Termes, " New Perspective Systems. Termespheres

Five Point Perspective

Tjtrewin, Worth 1000

Six Point Perspective

• Is a geometrical way to represent the world around us.

• It allows the viewer to draw what is both in front of and behind them.

• Imagine yourself inside a giant clear hamster ball.• Six-point perspective can also be seen in globes,

mirrored balls, and upside down in a crystal ball.• Dick Termes’ “Termespheres” are spheres

painted on in six-point perspective.

Six Point Perspective

Dick Termes, " New Perspective Systems. Termespheres

Six Point Perspective

Dick Termes, Impossible world art: various artists, 2004

Now for a short quiz!

Hope you were paying attention.

What perspective?

Tom Mead, meadyboystings2, 2008

What perspective?

brandon pass, flicker, 2006

What perspective?

Dick Termes, Impossible world art: various artists, 1986

What perspective?

!OpenAir!, Flickr, 2006

What perspective?

Sully Pixel, flicker, 2001

What perspective?

mirellatoncheva, the glass house, 2008

Works Cited

• Elkins, Jim. "What is Perspective?." Science Art and Technology. 07 Jan 2007. The Art Institute of Chicago. 13 Nov 2008. <http://www.artic.edu/aic/education/sciarttech/2d1.html>.

• Termes, Dick. "Perspective." New Perspective Systems. Termespheres. 15 Nov 2008 <http://www.termespheres.com/perspective.html>.