A Perspective on Perspective

Task 1) - You must keep a journal with your responses for each one of the tasks described and turn it in with your final drawing assignment. Personalize your journal for homework due next class.

Your final assignment is your last task (however you should be giving thought to how you'd like to do it as you progress through these first tasks) - and will be to draw a composition in one-point perspective on one of the following themes:  *Your dream bedroom or living room   -or-   *A drawing of a cityscape from the future

Task 2) You will be analyzing depictions of two spaces with awkwardly handled perspective, and asked to locate the places the artist has gone ....oddly awry:

a) Carefully observe the example above. Does it appear that the Angel's tray is tipping so far forward the items on it will slide off and crash to the floor? This is one example of what happens in improperly designed perspective.There are more places where things are visually awry.    Paste a copy of this picture into your journal.  Identify the areas that are creating difficulty for you to believe in.  Circle the areas that are not making 'visual sense' with perspective. Try to describe why you believe this is happening. You may use either words or diagrams to help you explain -- or both!

b) In the Process section, find a link to  Kirby's Perspective. Observe it carefully and identify specific places you can find that are visually confusing. Make a copy of the image and paste it into your journal. Circle at least three of the areas you find visually confusing about the space and the things it depicts. Describe or draw (or both) what's visually troubling about the image.

Task 3) - Read the pages assigned (through the link to the Science and Art of Perspective website in the Process section) about the history of artists pursuing the way to make "visual sense" in their work using perspective.  Notice examples on the assigned site pages that use  overdrawing  of  orthogonal  lines to show the successes or failures of the artists' attempts at perspective.  It is important that you note: in successful perspective, all orthogonal lines converge at a single vanishing point, as shown in the example of Masolino's painting of 1425; when these lines converge successfully into a single point, there is proof of the artist's success.

At this website:

a) -choose three examples from the works shown (on pages assigned for Task 3 in the Process section), and describe in your own words, why you think the artists did or did not succeed. You may create drawings or diagrams to assist you in your explanation (or both), and paste a copy of your chosen images into your journal. Overdraw on them and describe whether and how the artists succeeded. Be sure to name the artist, the date the painting was made and the name of the painting for each example you use!

and

b) -search Google Art Project (there's a link in the Process section) to find three of your own examples of Renaissance paintings that use architectural elements (either interior or exterior venues) to paste into your journal. Again, be sure to name the artist, the date the painting was made and the name of the painting for each example!  Overdraw the image in your journal to show where the vanishing point is located.

Extra Credit: find at least one example of Renaissance art  (that is NOT on the linked website, but may be at Google Art Project or another site of your choosing) that did not succeed in creating perspective properly. Paste a copy of it in your journal and overdraw orthogonal lines to prove the inaccuracy of the painting's perspective. Name the artist, the date the painting was made and the name of the painting!

Task 4 ) � Task 4 is for group work: Watch the videos together on the Camera Obscura and Optics(attached on the Process page) and do the following:

a) - While watching the videos, each of you must make written notes of  important points that you find personally interesting or that may help you with the rest of your group's quest. Take opportunities to replay parts of the video that  may be worth more attention or follow-up. Compare notes with each other and brainstorm to choose ways of researching "b & c". below-

b) Your group must research examples of the Camera Obscura apparatus and Optical lenses. Paste drawings of the apparatus(es) you find into your journals as instructed on the Process page.

c) Identify artists with three examples of work in which he utilized it (as described on the Process Page).   Gather the examples you can find of work in which they applied this technique and determine which three examples best portray evidence of the Camera Obscura's use in depicting perspective.

When members are satisfied with the material collected, describe and enter your groups' findings into all members' journals (as described on the Process Page, with any specific information or images) individually. You may sketch or use diagrams in your journal where you see fit.

Task 5 ) � After you observe the demonstration of how to create a cube in space using one-point perspective with a ruler and a pencil, practice this technique until you have a successfully drawn an example of several cubes and a horizon in your journal. Begin to consider your preferences for designing your final drawing's composition. You may choose to use some time here (depending on how you've been organizing your time) to make thumbnail notes of ideas you are considering for this drawing. You may also determine a theme and create a list of items you wish to include in your composition.

Task 6 ) - After being introduced to Google SketchUp, participate in the Google SketchUp basic tutorial. Create a simple example of cubes existing in space with a horizon line. Print out your example and paste it into your journal. Continue to consider your preferences for designing your final drawing's composition and theme. You may choose to use some time here (depending on how you've been organizing your time) to make thumbnail notes of ideas you are considering for this drawing. You may also determine your  theme and create a list of items you wish to include in your composition. 

Task 7 ) - Develop several thumbnail sketches of your chosen theme that will exemplify your skills in applying one-point perspective into your own, unique composition.

Choose which one of these methods to employ to create your own composition depicting space in one-point perspective, as described below:

Task 8 ) - Your final assignment is your last task (however you should be giving thought to how you'd like to do it as you progress through these first tasks).  Draw a composition in one-point perspective on one of the following themes:

        *Your dream bedroom or living room   -or-   *A drawing of a cityscape from the future (can be 20 years or 200 years!)           
(remember - details create interest for the viewer, demonstrate more effective use of the elements and principles, and improve the quality of your work)