Linear Perspective Lesson

Name of Project: Linear Perspective Lesson
Classroom, School: Fred Moore Middle School Center for the Arts, Drawing I
Cooperating teacher: Delia Whitcomb
Grade Level: Drawing I - 6th - 8th grade
Presenter's Name: Alyssa Baguss
Subject and Curricular Link: Linear perspective - math

Overview of Project

I will be demonstrating how to create a one-point perspective drawing to the students. They will create a creative fantasy landscape after initial instruction.

Essential Question(s)

How do you use one point perspective to create the Illusion of space? What are the basic rules of using linear perspective in a drawing? What strategies can you use to make a landscape look 3D?

Prior Knowledge

What are the elements of linear perspective? (Vocabulary) How do we use our rulers with the vanishing point? What lines of the drawing lead to the vanishing point, which do not? When can you see the tops or bottoms of objects? Sides? Review of Atmospheric perspective, placement, overlapping, scale.

Assessment

The drawings will demonstrate whether the students understand one-point perspective. If we would have time I would have like to had the students look at each others work and speak about what elements work in each others drawings and why they think so. As a group we could also discuss what they found difficult about the assignment and see if anyone could offer solutions to these problems/struggles.

Materials

Pencils - 2H Erasers - art gum or magic (white) Paper - sketch books Rulers - 12" clear Images from the internet - cityscapes with one point perspective Props (color print out) "spinners" with fasteners as the vanishing point with orthogonal

Procedures

1. Introduce subject: We will talk about linear perspective and what it is - When lines that are really the same distance apart (parallel) seem to get closer together as they get farther away.
   
2. Illusion of space: How to create a drawing that looks 3D on a 2D surface using line.
   
3. One point perspective: I will walk students through creating a horizon line and vanishing point- while I am working on the board, the students will be working in their sketchbooks filling an entire page. We will be creating a horizon line, vanishing point, and orthogonal guidelines together. I will ask the students to stop and listen while we discuss other elements of perspective.
   
4. Review vocabulary: These are terms the students have already learned about in class - we will review these elements briefly.
   Horizon line - Eye level, where sky and land meet
   Vanishing point - the point at which all-parallel lines meet
   (draw a road) (draw a building) - point out how the vertical lines are parallel to the sides of the paper and the horizontal lines are also parallel to the paper
   Ruler as clock hands - show how to use a ruler with the vanishing point
   
5. I will pass out the "spinners" - these are cityscape images printed from the Internet. I have attached a clear acetate "ruler" with a line indicating an orthogonal line on a vanishing point access. The vanishing point is a brass fastener, this will allow students to rotate the line and see how all parallel lines meet at the vanishing point.
6. Review special strategies of creating perspective: Scale: things get smaller the closer that they get to the horizon line on the diagonals (I will draw trees, each one getting smaller as they become closer to the vanishing point.)
   1. Placement: above the horizon - in the sky (you will see the bottom of the object. below - on the ground and (you will see the top of the object) - I will draw a cloud - above the horizon line it is in the sky, below it has become fog.
   2. Overlapping - shows space - if behind something else the object should be Smaller and closer to the horizon (I will draw an object in front of the Building drawn earlier. I will ask questions about which one is closer to us And why do you say that?
   3. Atmospheric: lighter the further away they are and fussier!
   4. Foreshortening - remember to draw things as they look, this may mean squishing the Shape to make it look as if it is closer to your eye than another part.
7. Upon completion of reviewing strategies above, students will be asked to continue on their drawings, creating a fun fantasy world on their sketchbook page. These one-point perspective drawings will be due on Thursday, Feb. 22. I will spend the remaining time assisting students with their drawings offering positive critical feedback.