Two-Point Perspective

Curriculum Area

Visual Arts
Grade Level: 7th Grade
Aligned with the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS): Anchor Standard 2: “Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.”

Lesson Objective

Students will understand and apply the concept of two-point perspective to create a simple cityscape drawing. They will identify and use orthogonal, transversal, and horizon lines, along with vanishing points. Additionally, students will learn about Filippo Brunelleschi and his role in the discovery of linear perspective.

Materials Needed

• Pencils
• Erasers
• Rulers
• 11” x 17” drawing paper
• Visual aids with real world examples (photos of streetscapes, building exteriors)
• Projector for visual presentations
• Whiteboard and markers

Vocabulary

1. Orthogonal Line: Lines that lead to the vanishing point.
2. Transversal Line: Lines that remain parallel to the picture plane and perpendicular to the orthogonal lines.
3. Horizon Line: The horizontal line across the picture on which the vanishing points sit.
4. Vanishing Point: The point on the horizon line where parallel lines converge.

Lesson Outline

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Begin with a brief definition of perspective in art and its significance.
• Introduce Filippo Brunelleschi, mentioning his impact on art with the discovery of linear perspective during the Renaissance.
• Explain that understanding perspective helps artists create realistic spatial depth in their drawings.

Direct Instruction (10 minutes)

• Present a short slideshow with visual examples of cityscapes demonstrating two-point perspective.

  • Highlight orthogonal lines, transversal lines, horizon lines, and vanishing points in each image.
  • Engage students by asking them to point out these lines in real world photographs shown.

• Provide a step-by-step verbal explanation of how to start a two-point perspective drawing:

  1. Draw a horizon line across the upper third of the paper.
  2. Place two vanishing points on the horizon line, one at each end.
  3. Draw a simple vertical line (edge of a building) as the starting point of the drawing.
  4. Connect the top and bottom of this line to each vanishing point to create orthogonal lines.
  5. Add transversal lines to complete the shape of the buildings.

Guided Practice (12 minutes)

• Distribute drawing materials to students.
• While students draw, circulate around the room offering individual guidance.
• Encourage students to think creatively about the buildings they are designing, keeping the principles of two-point perspective in mind.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

• Have students pause their work and share observations about the process.
• Reinforce the vocabulary by revisiting one or two students' drawings to highlight orthogonal lines, transversal lines, horizon lines, and vanishing points.

Reflection (3 minutes)

• Ask students to think of places they’ve seen in real life during their day-to-day activities and reflect on how understanding perspective can change how they view these scenes. Encourage sharing their thoughts briefly.

This lesson plan provides a comprehensive approach to introducing seventh-grade students to the concept of two-point perspective, integrating practical drawing exercises with historical context to cover both art skills and art history in alignment with US education standards.