Perspective Drawing

The following idea was taken from the July 15, 1893 edition of the daily newspaper, the Lake Madison Chautauquan.

Some dozen or so bright little girls and boys were in the drawing class yesterday morning when a reporter peeked in at the back door. He found them at work upon blocks, squares, cylinders, prisms, etc., learning from objects which they could see and feel, angles, circles, solids, and surfaces; this work is to prepare them fro drawing of perspective figures and this is the way they do it: A block is held up an the children are asked to draw it; its position is then changed and they draw it again. This process is repeated until they see clearly the manner in which a figure can be represented under all of its different conditions. it is not necessary to say that this is the first requisite for acquiring the ability to produce the likeness of any objects, namely, a correct knowledge of its appearance. That the children enjoyed it was shown by their brightness and activity.

Artists show distance by drawing things that are closer to the viewer larger and things that are far away smaller. These three lesson plans are designed to help students understand this concept.