If linear perspective gives you fits, this Tip might be just what you are looking for. Rather than trying to remember perspective rules, a brush handle, pencil, finger or even a stick
can be turned into an angle finder. After all, perspective lines are made of angles, and usually, it is an off-kilter angle that throws off the perspective of an image.
All this method requires is holding your angle finder at arm’s length, closing one eye, and while keeping it from leaning either forward or backward (in other
words, rotating it like a clock hand rotates), aligning it with the edge of the object you are drawing.
Here I am aligning my “angle finder” with the edges of the big tree straight ahead. I read the angle, then draw it. Yep, to learn this method, we first learn
to read angles.
One helpful way to "read" an angle is to refer to the numbers on an analog clock. Every angle in existence can be located there. The angle of the edge I'm
reading above is 12 o'clock. (It could also be 6 o'clock!)
Here I am reading each two angles of a book.
The angle on the left is 10 o'clock, the one on the right reads 2:30. Once read, I draw those angles, automatically creating correct perspective. There's no need to look for vanishing
points or to try to decide whether my view of this book is one-point or two-point perspective. If I read the angle accurately, I will draw it in correct perspective.
It's much easier to learn this single skill than trying to memorize all the rules of one-point, two-point and three-point perspective.
You will need a book, a pencil and some drawing paper.
- Place to book on a flat surface
- Stand or sit back at least four feet from the book
- Holding the pencil in your hand (like I'm doing in the above photos), fully extend your arm towards the book.
- Close one eye, then align your pencil with one of the vertical edges of the book. Be sure your pencil is not tilting either away from your eyes or towards your eyes. This is the trickiest part of this skill.
- Read that angle as to its position on a clock. To which of the clock numbers would it be pointing? THAT is finding and reading an angle.
- One by one, move your pencil to the other edges of the book. Read each one of them.
- NOW, take that journey again and this time, draw each of those angles right after you read it. Be sure to draw it at the SAME angle as you read.
Enjoy a delightful weekend of discovery!
P.S. You can go to our website and download a free perspective clock diagram that can be printed out on a transparency. Just click on this image.
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