Why Is Eye Level So Important - 6 Key Points

Why is Eye Level the critical element in understanding perspective? If you don't know, this video will explain why if should always be our starting focus when we draw. These six, easy to understand points combine into an almost foolproof supporting structure for drawing perspective.

[@sublimique2794]

and these videos are free…you just explained eye level for me so much after countless of books and videos it has never clicked for me like this. Thank you!!

[@stephentraversart]

Music for a teacher’s ear. Thanks for letting me know. 😀

[@lilgreenhen]

Incredible video series. I'm a working background artist and I STILL have trouble with perspective- because I was taught in the architectural way you mentioned, at an art college no less. These tips have been eye opening and I feel more confident now. Thank you for providing this awesome content!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Hen. This is exactly the sort of situation I was hoping to help with. Appreciate your telling me. 😀

[@minipainter2]

You are the best instructor. I’m always inspired to run to my studio so I can find what are now obvious mistakes and fix them.

[@stephentraversart]

That’s very kind. I’m always wanting to be practical 😀

[@louisegabriellediaz1491]

I love your content! Please don’t stop making art. Love ya!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I’ll do my best. 😀

[@321ftm]

I create digital matte paintings in Photoshop and your perspective method is helping me a lot.Thank you so much!!

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear. Thanks 😀

[@qaq89]

Thanks for this video. I’ve been trying to teach myself to draw in the last month and I have been following Dodson’s book as I have heard it is good for complete beginners. I am currently on the perspective chapter and I am having a lot of trouble understanding it. I understand eye-level and vanishing points in an intuitive sense but I found Dodson’s explanations to be confusing and therefore difficult to apply his lesson. I think it is a real weak point of the book. Your video cleared up what confusions I had and I have found it very helpful. Thanks again!

[@stephentraversart]

Happy to oblige. I have a playlist on perspective if you’re interested in more on this topic from me. Here’s a link kzbin.info/aero/PLwjv2r1KZs1QXGGxk-0imNAVOIC74LDp1&si=Cevjr_Y5rWwFB9sp

[@unclesamshrugged2621]

The best videos on perspective on KZbin!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks again. Glad they are helpful. Please tell your friends. 😀

[@dksamaritan5200]

You could say it's the best "perspective" on perspective on KZbin.

[@alannachristie6495]

The best example i have found for finding vanishing point! Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Wonderful. Thanks 😀

[@darbypea2223]

Your videos have been really eye opening to me about perspective. Ive read a lot of books on it bur youve really made things click for me

[@stephentraversart]

Just what a teacher loves to hear. Thanks 😀

[@Seneca85]

Hi Stephen. I just wanted to share that I had ago of applying the eye level technique to a portrait and to a still life. And, it definitely works there tool. The lesson has helped to understand why my pieces can be wonky at times! Although I’m not looking to create photorealistic, I DO want balance and proportion. You are an inspiring teacher. Thank you again 🙏

[@stephentraversart]

That’s so good to hear Seneca. And thank you for your kind words. It’s encouraging. 😀

[@suespeers5468]

Thank you so much for your videos on perspective. I feel that I’m finally understanding what’s going on!

[@stephentraversart]

That’s what I’m hoping for. 😀

[@dianecharest8365]

Always helpful. Thank you Stephen. You have this way of explaining that is very easy to understand.

[@stephentraversart]

That’s very encouraging to hear Diane. A good teacher makes everything seem easy!😀

[@joanneyoung1081]

Thank you . Good & important explanation

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Joanne. I think eye level is the great underestimated part of perspective theory. 😀

[@karenluke-mannarino3426]

Perspective is such a difficult concept to wrap my head, especially my eyes, around. Thanks for the video, it definitely helps!

[@stephentraversart]

That’s great to hear Karen. Thanks 😊

[@karincarter4962]

Very useful thank you !

[@ampersamcomics4859]

So very helpful!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I love you hear when something really makes sense. 😀

[@davidhallowell3457]

Great lesson. Do you have another that focuses on a landscape example? Imaginary landscapes with sloping ground and trees and bushes of varying sizes give me trouble.

[@stephentraversart]

I posted two landscape videos today. 😀

[@rhoadsr1]

This was such a helpful video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@stephentraversart]

Always encouraging to hear this Becky. Thanks 😀

[@lw8281]

Thank you! As always helpful and a beautiful explanation.

[@stephentraversart]

I appreciate your kind comment. Thanks 😀

[@yollexart]

11:55 marker SOOOOOOOO helpful! Somewhere deep in my brain I was asking this because I have passed over reference photos due to not understanding where or how to find eye level when it has been taken out of frame of the photo. Thank you, Thank you! 🥹🙏

[@dianabass4489]

This is so helpful! Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear Diana. I feel eye level is the hugely neglected element of perspective, and yet in my mind it holds the key to it all. 😀

[@dobrazil5825]

I start to see the world in different perspective now :) Thanks for sharing your passion

[@stephentraversart]

So encouraged to hear this Dobra. Thanks for telling me. 😀

[@ChericeByler]

Super helpful!! Thanks!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Cherice. Hope the drawing is going well. 😀

[@ahmadyauharuna6050]

Good work 👍❤️

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you😀

[@sutil5078]

thanks very helpful as usual, kind suggestion what about a video where you show real photos and the 2 point perspective , and another for 3 point perspective.. so we can recongize the 2 point and 3 points in real photos.. would that mean 2 "fans" in 2 point per. and 3 fans in 3 point per.?

[@stephentraversart]

Pretty sure I have a video on this. It looks at real life perspective with a range of various positions. There will be a fan for every separate vanishing point in the scene. 😀

[@sutil5078]

@@stephentraversart ok, great, thank you.. lovely day

[@yollexart]

So what would be a good practice for getting used to drawing this all out? Should I start with using a ruler and and pencil and getting used to finding and outlining the main parts of the perspective of drawing buildings? You are much more advanced and you seem to just see where a good placement is for starting a random building and scaling things. I seem to end up drawing something to big or to you small and angles are very difficult to see at my stage and skill of drawing. It is very intimidating to draw with a Pen and paper and try to apply scale and perspective. Hope my question made sense. Your videos are incredibly helpful though. I learned soooo much the past few days. Thank you for sharing.

[@kristinegreig6160]

I did see a video where eye level was simplified to look for the horizontal lines in the scene, whether window sills/doors/end of street. It was the "aha" moment for me 🎉 Ps, I wrote this comment just as video started, and soon heard this too.

[@stephentraversart]

Clearly it was a very wise video then! I have a couple of perspective playlists Kristine if you want more on this topic. 😀

[@younqzoe]

i was hoping this video would tell me the difference between horizontal line and eye level, i might've missed it or it wasnt explained

[@stephentraversart]

As far as perspective goes, they are used interchangeably. However, horizon can be used in other geographical contexts, which I think makes it unhelpful. And eye level is a term which makes really clear what it is, a further advantage it has. 😀

[@joefernandes4256]

Subscribed👍

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent Joe. Welcome aboard my channel 😀

[@jillemreborn741]

Awesome 👌

[@stephentraversart]

Appreciate that Jillam. Thanks 😀

[@blinkersgaming]

7:38 why is it that the vertical lines start tilting to the left, and seem more distorted as we look towards the right border? Shouldn't all the vertical lines be at 90⁰ despite the vanishing point? Is there another vanishing point way up above the page fanning down vertically? If someone could help me with this I'd really appreciate it. Thanks great video!

[@stephentraversart]

This is the distortion a camera lens causes. It becomes more extreme as we get closer and tilt upwards in our view. To avoid it we need to stand further back and zoom in. I often remove it when I draw, although it can look dramatic. It’s like 3pm it perspective, but exaggerated, and we see it via cameras when we wouldn’t see it in real life. 😀

[@blinkersgaming]

@@stephentraversart Thank you so very much for even taking the time. I honestly wondered about that being a camera lens issue. I hate to take more of your time, but otherwise am I correct about vertical lines being 90⁰? Thanks again. This perspective playlist is something I'm learning a whole lot from!

[@stephentraversart]

@@blinkersgaming No problem. Yes, vetical lines are 90 degrees.

[@efrainjesusuntiverospizzar4955]

Nice video as always

[@stephentraversart]

Kind words. Thank you Efrain 😀

[@jhazell5180]

Great explanation. Thx. Question: what type/brand/nib size of pen do you use to draw with? I've been using Pigma Micron, but I find the ink doesn't flow consistently shortly after beginning a drawing. I have to put it away and grab another one until the ink seems to settle down and flow right. I've been using 005 for early sketch outlines and I store them tip down with the cap on. Thank you.

[@stephentraversart]

I use Copic Multiliners for the line work, (0.5, 0.3, 0.2, & occasionally 0.1) and Copic Sketchmarkers for the tone, using the brush end, not the chisel end. I use Neutral Grey colour for the tone, usually 4-6 tones each drawing. The markers are refillable and the pens can have their ink cartridges and nibs replaced. 😀

[@lauragirona8028]

thanks!!!!!!!

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure Laura. 😀

[@maamseeetc1784]

روعة

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks again. 😀

[@ahmadyauharuna6050]

Good work 👍❤️

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks😊