Exercise 6: Circles & Curves

The most challenging aspect of perspective is drawing curving or circular forms. These are typically sketched freehand, inside squares or rectangles to help get proportions correct.
By the completion of this exercise, you should be able to:

• Use the technique of ‘crating’ – drawing complex forms inside rectangular boxes
• Draw circles, cylinders and cones in one point perspective, from a range of different angles
• Use straight lines (guidelines) to aid the drawing of irregular curves, such as the curving forms of rivers or trees in a one point perspective landscape
• Understand that:
  • Circles or curving forms that face the viewer are drawn using their true shape
  • Circles that recede towards the vanishing point appear distorted, appearing smaller as they get further away

​These concepts are explained in the following video: