A New Way to Understand Perspective

This is the way Stephen thinks about perspective when he draws! It is not the academic method of analysing vanishing points and sight lines, but is a totally different approach. In this first of two videos, Stephen applies his approach to some simpler examples. Everything is illustrated both in diagrams and life photo examples.

[@linnkoln11]

I am developing my perspective drawing course and the Idea of developing your own patterns based on observation is quite amazing. Never thought about these methods as independent ways of exploring perspective as a subject. Even this little thought is worth the time of watching your video. Thank you!!!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Andrei. I've made a second video now on this with more examples if you're interested. :)

[@warx1680]

@@stephentraversart thanks, I just got into art and I loved finding out your channel! Also, merry Christmas

[@stephentraversart]

@@warx1680 Really pleased to hear you're finding the channel helpful. Thanks for telling me. :)

[@RatusMax]

I loved this video, it helped me easily see when the perspective is not adding up quick without having to overthink things. This single video helped my skills jump fast. I saw some other videos where, I thought I would have to do some trigonometry or something to get the perspectives.

[@stephentraversart]

Great. Understanding the theory is helpful if we are creating scenes from our imagination, but the patterns are still the same, whichever way we are drawing. Glad to hear you're on a perspective-turbo boost! :)

[@mjj7632]

I was confused on how perspectives work out, but this video helped me greatly. Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Very encouraging of you t tell me this. Thank you MJ. :)

[@mmarrotte101]

This is such a helpful resource, thank you for taking the time to share Stephen!

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was so helpful for you Mike. Please tell your friends. :)

[@nj.7325]

thank you SO much! I always thought this was a lazy/wrong way to shortcut perspective but you explained it so well, I'm going to take it seriously and have a lot more fun drawing now. Your observation of the heads of people staying at eye level blew my mind! art is so interesting.

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was so helpful. Get ready for a lot of serious fun drawing 😀!

[@ingd2142]

This video helped me make sense of perspective, it feels less intimidating now

[@stephentraversart]

That’s a great comment to hear Ing, and it’s the effect I was wanting the video to have. 😀

[@dennit.firmansyah5079]

Thanks its pretty helpful, i've always had a trouble with prespective

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Deni. I've just posted the second one in this series if you're interested. Looks at more complex patterns. :)

[@Cuyagua1765]

This was such a wonderful video!!! Thank you. You made so clear and practical. The demonstration finding the lines in images and the alignment of people within images was simply superb!

[@_ceds]

Thank you so much sir this is what I've been looking for, for a long time because, I still have a lot to understand in perspective. your channel has truly a lot of knowledge🙇‍♂️ and what's funny about it is I don't know what should I watch first 😅

[@stephentraversart]

Really glad to hear that Sedi. I have a perspective playlist, but otherwise try the videos on the things you want to work on. 😀

[@DesignDrawDo]

Wow this was mindblowing!!! Loved it tysm!

[@stephentraversart]

Love your enthusiasm! Thanks, and have fun drawing. 😀

[@FinessenceSL]

you explained this so well especially with drawing everyone on the HL.

[@stephentraversart]

Good to hear it made such sense to you. All the best. 😀

[@sudenkallo]

Thank you for simplifying perspective! This makes it so much easier

[@stephentraversart]

I always love to hear this. Thanks Suden. 😀

[@dedemittuaart]

Very helpful Master...

[@stephentraversart]

I always love to hear the videos are helpful. Thanks Dedemittua

[@watercolourkeyes]

Oh my goodness thank you so much! Can’t wait for your next lesson. Much clearer!

[@stephentraversart]

Your enthusiasm is very encouraging, thank you Liana. :)

[@Sr-S450]

thank you for your involvement, sir! Keep up with the good work! Congratulations 🎉

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Petre. I appreciate the encouragement. :)

[@dickeseo6283]

Well explained thanks for sharing.

[@stephentraversart]

Really glad you found it helpful Dick. Have fun drawing. 😀

[@reisatsuki5891]

Thank you, sir! Perspective is always a headache for me. Your explanations and examples helped me tremendously!

[@stephentraversart]

So encouraging to hear that Rei. All the best with your drawings. Please tell your friends about my channel. 😀

[@flutterin4595]

Thank you so much!! That's a really good perspective video. I will share it with my friends!

[@stephentraversart]

That’s kind of you to say and do. Thank you. 😀

[@Art_Cath]

Very clear and pragmatic . i think to memorise these reflexes during the observation of a scene will be most usefull. Thanks a lot for explaining your approach.👍

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Catherine. I've always been a pragmatist I guess. :)

[@alandjayce1574]

Perspective grids scared me even when I do manage to get something out of it. Loving the videos!

[@stephentraversart]

That's great Alan. I've just posted a second video like this on perspective but with more complex examples. :)

[@kusumkala4660]

Thanks for sharing your beautiful observation.

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure. Appreciate your thanks. 😀

[@jahanzebkadir8575]

As an amateur, I've always felt that instructors try to over-SCIENTIFY processes LOL I believe art is about simplifying things (not realistic art though) that is to say, artists can economize on strokes and still have someone experience what the artist saw When I sketch, I look at the patterns too instead of the whole rigmaroll of vanishing points. It's nice to know a professional uses similar tactics, but of course has better results. Thanks for this.

[@stephentraversart]

I think understanding the technical framework can be helpful, because it gives us clues what to expect, but when we draw, we usually rely on observation, and I find observing the patterns a way to help me see and remember more accurately. :) .

[@fzehraozturk]

Thanks, it’s really useful video. I finally understood the perspective thanks to you.

[@stephentraversart]

What a pleasing comment to read. thanks you Fatma. :)

[@StellaYtAcc]

you have really great lectures on yt thx u

[@stephentraversart]

That’s very encouraging to hear Stella. Thanks 😀

[@Baba6782]

This is so helpful !! I see fans everywhere now 😂

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure Yasmi. I have a few perspective playlists if you’re interested in more on this topic from me. Have fun with your drawing. 😀

[@myanitabonita]

Amazing, the patterns you pointed out would have taken forever for me to figure out!

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear. Glad it’s helpful for you. 😀

[@TheGREATdEEPs]

I am learning photoshop and illustrator and this video is very useful. Thanks 🙂

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear it’s helpful Deepak. Thanks. 😀

[@husnaraharjo7655]

Thank you so much for this!

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful Husna 😀

[@stephentraversart]

I have a perspective playlist if you’re interested in more perspective videos. 😀

[@thekatibelle]

I love the way you explain how to do perspective. Do you have a book about perspective for sale? Thanks

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Kati. That’s very encouraging to hear. No, I don’t have a book, but there are 50 videos on my KZbin perspective playlist. Check it out. All free. 😀

[@mariamehab3580]

Thank you so much it was so useful!

[@stephentraversart]

Appreciate your telling me Marián. Great to hear v😀

[@monarabah8841]

Thank you 😍😍

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Mona. 😀

[@sajeeshsyam]

Brilliant

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Sajeesh :)

[@nofalloutsurvivor]

Makes sense

[@stephentraversart]

Well, it does to me, and I'm glad it does to you, as well. Thanks. :)

[@TheGREATdEEPs]

7:00

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Deepak.

[@nickelazoyellow7360]

I do this too. The vanishing point just confused me.

[@stephentraversart]

Glad I’m not alone. That’s great Nickela

[@hguos]

I don't understand the vertical line at 1:50. Sorry

[@stephentraversart]

Think of it as a type of eye level, but instead of sitting as a horizontal line, it is vertical. But like eye level, it is directly in front of the eyes (or camera). Just as horizontal lines increasingly tilt as they move above or below eye level, so vertical lines tilt more and more as they move to the left or right of this vertical line. It’s the same thing. If you turn your paper 90 degrees, the vertical line looks and works like a normal eye level. Does this make sense?

[@iboarts]

@@stephentraversart thank you, I was going to ask just the same question! I guess the vertical lines looked parallel to me but actually they are not :)

[@colorist_tommy4247]

11:03 it works as long as you are ABOUT the same HEIGHT as the other people. It falls apart if you are a dwarf . so its less about horizon line but about your height.

[@stephentraversart]

True. Or we can think of it as an average adult head height. I think there’s a child in my thumbnail😀

[@dylaneytalkpa3764]

I still dont understand a thing. How are you supposed to angle the objects correctly. This doesnt make sense my brain is frying 😭

[@stephentraversart]

This video is about seeing the patterns in perspective to help understand and anticipate what happens. But if you are copying from a photo or drawing from life, we can also just copy what’s in front of us as accurately as we can. Why not try doing that, and not worrying about perspective theory? All the best Dylaney.