How to Construct a 3D / Anamorphic Perspective Chalk Drawing

by Tracy Lee Stum

www.tracyleestum.com / www.streetpainting.com
(with excerpts included from B. Bizarro!s treatise on 3D projection drawing)
To Complete this lesson you will need.....
1 pad 11x 14 drawing paper
A few sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 multi-purpose paper
Yardstick &/or 18 ruler
Pencil/eraser
Protractor
Compass
1 pad 8 1/2 x 11 vellum or tracing paper (vellum recommended)
Drafting tape
Scotch tape
A basic knowledge of drafting, perspective, geometry, and drawing will be helpful in this
lesson.
The space we have to create our 3D chalk art is 6! x 8! feet. We are going to create a
scale drawing of our working area and our chalk drawing. This rst drawing will be a
perspective drawing. Let!s make the scale 1 unit = 1! foot. The horizontal line at the
bottom of the drawing (the base line) represents the bottom edge of our chalk drawing -
draw that along the bottom edge of your paper. It also represents the ground that the
street drawing will be placed on. The drawing area is composed of 6 units, while the
distance the viewer is standing from the drawing is 5 units. (Each unit is 1! foot in
length.) Next we will establish the horizon line, which is parallel with the base line. The
height of the viewer!s eye (POV) from the base line determines where the horizon line
falls. This vertical line on the right (X) represents a viewing height (or horizon line) of 5!
feet 5 inches above the ground. The horizon is always at eye level. Draw the horizon
parallel to the ground and continue this line to the edge of your paper.
Figure 1A
Next extend the bottom edge of your drawing 2 units to the left as shown in Figure 1B.
You may need to attach an additional sheet of paper to accomplish this. Extend the
bottom edge of your drawing 5 units to the right - this represents the distance between
the observer and the bottom edge of your painting (Y). Create a point of view (POV) 5
&1/2 units above the ground at this point (X). Using a long ruler or yardstick, intersect
POV with the base line units to create reference points that will establish where the
horizontal perspective lines will fall on the grid. (The blue lines represent the line of sight
from the viewer.) Next draw the horizontal lines across the grid at the intersecting
points.
Figure 1B
When you are nished, you will have a good representation of a what a 6! foot x 8! foot
grid on the ground will look like to someone standing 5! feet away from a height of 5! 5.
(At this point you can go over the lines of the perspective grid in permanent ink if you
like.) See Figure 1C.
Figure 1C
Next we will place an image onto this perspective grid. Draw the image (dolphin in a
pool) on the perspective grid as shown in Figure 2. In this example, the image is drawn
on a new sheet of vellum which is placed over our perspective grid - you will need to
see both the grid and the drawing throughout the designing process. Keep your design
drawing as concise as possible.
Figure 2 - Perspective Grid
Place some vellum on top of your drawing. Make it enough to create a squared version
of your grid, this will become the Projection Grid. Square the grid as shown in Figure 3.
It helps to draw the outer perimeter rst, measure 1 unit marks along the perimeter then
connect the marks. The squared grid represents 1! x 1! foot squares you will draw on
the ground in chalk.
Figure 3 - Perspective Grid with Projection Grid placed on top.
Now, before we proceed, we should consider the viewing angle and perspective. We
have already established that our observer is 3! feet away from our work of art (POV)
but now it is time to create an anamorphic projection point that will approximate the
phenomena of parallax that occurs as a result of having two eyes.
To demonstrate parallax, hold your thumb out at arms length, look at you thumb, close
one eye and observe where your thumb is in relation to some background object. Now,
keep your arm extended, close the eye you are looking through and look at the same
background object through the other eye. Notice how your thumb seems to shift
horizontally in relation to the xed background point. Also notice that the greater the
distance to the xed background point, the greater the shift. Parallax projects out in a
beam like a movie from a projector.
Without moving the eyes, human range of vision is about 120 degrees horizontally.
Moving the eyes from side to side horizontally increases that range to about 180
degrees. Since our work will be seen on the ground and at, we won!t concern
ourselves with vertical range of vision. Due to parallax, our anamorphic projection point
ends up in front of our POV and not directly on it. Using a protractor and a compass, we
will create an anamorphic projection point for our drawing similar to the one shown in
the example in Figure 4. The grid size in gure 4 is different from ours but the principle
still applies. A horizontal line is drawn at least 5 grid units long intersecting POV (gure
4). An arc is drawn with radius 2.4 inches. Marked are 30 degree points along the arc
at the West and East ends. The points are connected. The intersection of drawing
vertical center and 30 degree horizontal is the projection point (PP).
Figure 4
The illusion of 3D in chalk art (or any 2-dimensional art form) is achieved by intentionally
distorting images but the method of distortion is an exact science and not guesswork.
The distance of POV from the grid base line is equal to the distance of the viewer from
the base line, in this case, 3 units or 3! feet. Lines are drawn radiating out from the
projection point (PP), not the POV. The lines are also used as spacial reference points
as they intersect grid lines.
As a step by step guide to nd PP, referring to Figure 4 above, follow the steps below:
1. Place the POV 3 units along the vertical center of the drawing from the bottom edge
of the drawing remembering that our photo will be taken 5! feet away from the chalk
drawing edge.
2. Draw a horizontal line through POV at a right angle to drawing center. Make the line 5
units long.
3. Using a compass, draw an arc slightly under 2.5 units radius
4. Using a protractor, nd the 30 degree points on the arc on the East and West ends of
the arc.
5. Intersect a line from 30 degree points on the East and West ends of the arc with
vertical center of the drawing, mark projection point. We now have our anamorphic
projection point. This point will be used to project key elements in our perspective
drawing onto our squared grid just like the example given above.
Accuracy is important at this stage. Take your time and make sure all your
measurements are correct. Accuracy of drawing and measurement are key to a
successful 3D illusion.
Figure 5
Using a yardstick and the projection point, nd key elements in the perspective drawing
(green lines), readily identiable reference points, and project them onto the squared
Projection Grid (as shown in the red lines). Locate portions of the design that intersect
grid lines and make them correspond to the squared grid. For example, the eye on the
dolphin is used as key reference point for projection (Figure 6). I used the blue lines to
indicate these points. The grid is used to tell where the major points should end.
Imagine what a movie would look like if instead of the screen being perpendicular to the
projector, if it were tilted at an angle away from the audience. The image on the screen
would appear to become more distorted as the screen tilts away from the audience.
That is how you have to draw in order to distort the image to compensate for the
unusual viewing angle. Less distortion close to the audience, more distortion away from
the audience. The nished grid with the distorted dolphin image is called the Projection
Grid.
Figure 6
Projection Grid
(reference drawing)
When working on transferring the drawing to the projection grid, use the numbered
squares as an additional guide when placing key aspects of the design. It will feel very
unnatural to draw like his at rst, but after you have done a few, you will feel more
natural to draw this way the more 3D chalk pieces you do.
When you are complete with the basic lay-out, the projection grid is the reference you
will work from when making your chalk painting. Start with something relatively simple to
build up your condence when working with distorted images. You will lay out the
Projection Grid on the ground exactly as in your reference drawing, and using this as a
map, place all the appropriate lines where they are indicated on your reference drawing.
You may also nd that you can create the projection grid with a computer program -
however, while this may be a time efcient approach, I think it is always important for
the artist to understand the principles behind the techniques he employs, hence this
document!
Some additional notes:
When you are ready to photograph your nished chalk piece, mark a point on the
ground that corresponds to the POV in your design (5! feet away in our example). Shoot
from the POV point, not the PP point. (The projection point is ALWAYS in front of the
POV.) Add a person interacting with your chalk piece to make the nal photo more
authentic and amazing!
You may also want to use your set up digital camera as a means to check the progress
of your work as you proceed. Make any visual adjustments as seen necessary through
the camera lens. I often nd that while my drawing is accurate, there may be some
elements that when seen through the lens, appear to be slightly off. Use your artistic
intuition to improvise as needed!
It is important to note that holes in the ground, such as the one in this image, are drawn
circular on our squared grid. Any openings in the ground of a 3D chalk piece are drawn
circular. Perspective creates the oval shape that will be seen. Likewise, if you want
something to appear circular in your painting, a sphere for example, you will need to
draw it in an elongated oval shape - the camera lens will then corrects it into a sphere
when shot from the correct POV.
And nally, proper lighting and shading of your image will create a much more
believable illusion. You may want to search for a reference that has the correct lighting
and colorization indicated to help with this.
Suggested additional reading:
Andrea del Pozzo - !Perspective in Architecture and Painting"
Jurgis Baltrusaitis - !Anamorphoses"
Website on Modular Perspective for Street Painting:
www.perspectivegeometry.com
Examples of 3D chalk art in 3D / Anamorphic Perspective by Tracy Lee Stum