Teaching perspective in KS2 art can be simplified by breaking down the concept into manageable steps and using guided practice.
Perspective is an artistic technique used to create the illusion of depth and distance on a flat surface. For Key Stage 2 students (ages 7-11), introducing the idea of things looking smaller as they get further away is a good starting point.
Here’s a common and effective method for teaching one-point perspective, incorporating the reference's approach:
1. Introduce the Concept Simply
- What is Perspective? Explain that perspective helps make pictures look like they have space and depth, showing things that are close up big and things far away small.
- Real-World Examples: Show examples in photos or real life, like a long road disappearing into the distance or railway tracks meeting in the distance.
- The Vanishing Point: Introduce the vanishing point. This is the spot on the horizon line where parallel lines seem to meet. It's where things appear to disappear into the distance.
2. Explain the Process (The Big Picture)
Before they start drawing, it's beneficial for students to understand the overall aim. As mentioned in the reference, "I talk the students through the steps and explain the process. I feel it is important for them to see the big picture before drawing themselves." Explain that they will draw a horizon line, a vanishing point, and then draw shapes that connect to this point to create the illusion of depth.
3. Conduct a Guided Drawing
This is a crucial step where students actively participate and learn by doing. "Next, I do a guided drawing. The students follow along with me step-by-step as we connect squares, rectangles and circles to the vanishing point."
Follow these steps with the students:
- Draw a Horizon Line: Ask students to draw a horizontal line across their paper. Explain this is where the sky meets the ground.
- Place a Vanishing Point: Ask them to put a dot somewhere on the horizon line – this is their vanishing point.
- Draw Basic Shapes: Have them draw simple shapes like squares, rectangles, or circles above, below, or to the side of the vanishing point, but not directly on it.
- Connect Shapes to the Vanishing Point: Use a ruler to draw lines (called orthogonal lines) from the corners (or edges) of each shape back to the vanishing point.
- Create the Back of the Shape: Draw a line or shape parallel to the front of the original shape, connecting the orthogonal lines. This creates the "back" of the 3D form (like the back of a box or building).
- Erase Extra Lines: Carefully erase the orthogonal lines inside the newly created 3D shape and any parts of the original shape lines that wouldn't be seen.
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Horizon & Vanishing Point | Draw a horizontal line and a dot on it. | Sets the eye level and the point of depth. |
| 2. Draw Shapes | Draw simple shapes (squares, rectangles, circles) on the page. | Provides the starting point for objects. |
| 3. Connect to Vanishing Point | Draw lines from shape corners/edges to the vanishing point. | Creates the guide for making shapes 3D. |
| 4. Draw Back of Shape | Draw parallel lines/shapes to create the back plane of the object. | Defines the end of the 3D form. |
| 5. Erase | Remove hidden lines and extra orthogonal lines. | Cleans up the drawing to show the final form. |
4. Practice and Apply
Once students understand the basic method, encourage them to practice with different shapes or apply it to drawing simple scenes like a road with buildings or a train track.
- Drawing a Road: Draw a horizon line and vanishing point. Draw two lines from the bottom edge of the paper meeting at the vanishing point. Add details like telegraph poles getting smaller as they get closer to the point.
- Drawing Buildings: Draw squares or rectangles on either side of a road (created as above). Connect the corners closest to the vanishing point back to the vanishing point. Draw vertical lines to define the back edges of the buildings, making them shorter as they go into the distance.
Using clear examples, guided practice, and breaking down the steps (Horizon Line, Vanishing Point, Orthogonal Lines, Back Edge) makes perspective accessible and enjoyable for KS2 students.
