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Perspective Drawing Tutorial: A New Perspective
Recall that our most basic definition of perspective is "a position in relation to different positions." With this, we can even offer our perspective on a problem according to our position on that issue.
But that may not be specific enough for our needs. We will therefore introduce a new subject called form perspective which is "our position in relation to forms" or "forms from our perspective."
This subject follows laws which are more complete than just observing converging lines that suggest a feeling of depth upon a flat surface. It is a basic law of form perspective that size, distance and direction are the only three things that can affect how large or small a form appears.
First, the size or amount of a form will affect how large or small it looks. (below)
Next, its amount of distance from us also determines how large or small it will appear. (below)
And finally, the amount of direction (the angle) it faces us affects its apparent size as well. (below)
This combination of size, distance and direction is what determines the appearance of every form around us.
Therefore, with all of that in mind, a more expanded definition of form perspective can be stated: "the size, distance and direction of forms from our position." That translates into "how large forms are to us," "how far forms are to us" and "what angle forms are to us." This may or may not be applied to art.
That definition demonstrates how limited the subject of "depth perspective" really is since the size and direction of a form are just as important as its distance to us.
Also notice that "three-dimensional" is not a part of form perspective's meaning. This is because any form, even if more two-dimensional, still represents a form we are looking at.
Yet, vision is not mentioned either. With our eyes closed we do relate (establish or demonstrate a connection) to forms in some way. Still, form perspective can also be stated as "the size, distance and direction of forms from our viewpoint."
With the appearance of forms as our purpose, let us focus now on apparent form.
We start by placing a circle or sphere around our viewpoint. (below left) Notice that the angle of light projecting through this measuring sphere is the same angle that is projecting onto the retina (the light-sensitive layer within the eye). (below right)
This amount of direction projecting onto the retina determines how large or small a form appears.
And so regarding size, a smaller form has a smaller angle of light compared to a larger form. (below)
Next, the more distant of these two forms has a smaller angle of light, even though the forms are exactly the same size. (below)
And finally, the more perpendicular in direction a form is to us, the larger it will appear. (below)
It can be seen here that the angle of the form itself will affect its angle of light.
