Angular Perspective P.89

Angular Perspective P.89

In this attempt at Angular perspective, I tried to draw this shed like structure, freehand from the  view outside my window. Once I finished the sketch, I then used a ruler to estimate my eye level from two vanishing points. Firstly, I am clearly wrong with my angles of the shed as the the V.P.2 is much higher and V.P 1 is practically  horizontal. This would explain difficulty in getting the roof to line up correctly. I then predicted where my Eye Level would be and given a large enough piece of paper, I have estimated it to be around where the bracket is above the shed. Even though my proportions were completely out, I have found this a really interesting exercise in terms of double checking any buildings I draw in future.

Again, I have tried to create perspective on this sketch, without the aid of a ruler and I am quite satisfied with how it has come out. Once it was completed, I used a ruler to see how my natural lines converged. I am out slightly with the plant pots which I found quite difficult, sketching them into the foreground, but other than that, I feel this is far more accurate than the shed. 

Check and Log P.90

• What problem did you find in executing perspective drawing?

In terms of freehand, having a reference point to start from. With the shed, I did the vertical line in the center fine but the lines of width and depth were not level so it twisted the shed slightly. With the image of the marina, I was able to start with the building at the far end and build outwards from the door, using the plant pots  buildings and lamps as a guide until I was at the foreground. This way seemed more simpler for me to judge the perspective.  

• Makes note on the merits of using or not using, rulers to guide you.

I am a bit puzzled as to whether a ruler is classed as cheating or indeed if there are any rules in art at all. A ruler will obviously give you straight angles and a level of accuracy that can not be achieved freehand, but does this take away the human touch from a picture and make it more of a diagram ? To play devils advocate, as an aid to the artist, the use of a ruler is not so much different to using a grid to enlarge a picture because without either tool, the artist would have to use their artistic skill to estimate. Then I hear ( on the Drawing and Painting Channel ) a professional artist say that a ruler was ok to use on his painting of a bridge because it was a man made structure, and it would not look right freehand, so I am unsure were the merits lie either way  On the same channel, and used by professional artists, was something called " Trace Down", tracing paper with a layer of carbon, so you can create an image without the use of sketching, so if artists are fine with this, the consensus seems to be that creating art is whatever you want it to be and use whatever tools you have available to you.