BASIC PERSPECTIVE - examples make it easier than you think.

UPDATED January 2026

With a few simple techniques it might n ot be a frightening as you think it is.

PERSPECTIVE : the art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point:

We live with perspective every day, yet when it comes to using it in our drawing and painting, the mist seems to descend and suddenly we can't see what should be bigger and which lines should slope which way.

When it comes to buildings and landscapes, this is the course which will help you get what you see, down onto the paper.

I have deliberately limited the content to what I believe the leisure painter needs the most.

Explained in words, diagrams and then with real life examples, it will start to fall into place and planning and painting believable scenes will be less of a challenge. Everyday places, buildings, roads and objects that will help you get to grips with this fact of life and will help you create more believable drawings and paintings.

Learn about:

• The vanishing point, what is it and where does it vanish to.

• The horizon, how do you know where it is, and is it a constant.

• Atmospheric perspective is about colour just as much as size.

• How to space posts as they go away from you in a believable easy to do way.

• How to take measurements to get things in proportion.

• What is the picture plane and what is it used for.

Get to grips with the above and the mist will clear and suddenly your painting and drawing will go up to another level.

Keep safe and Keep painting, love Nicola