Sketching Perspective

Ilga Leimanis
Perspective is key to visualizing a space and communicating an idea to others. This book explains how to tackle perspective with hand sketching - how to turn a 3D scene into a 2D drawing successfully. Written for a wide range of professionals from architects to set designers, engineers to interior designers, it explains the principles of perspective clearly and how to communicate a vision successfully. Topics covered include: materials and equipment, specifically with drawing on location in mind; observational drawing using the body, arms and hands to help understand the spaces being drawn; perspective constructions for one and two vanishing points for interior and exterior drawings; panoramic views and aerial perspective - how to approach drawing a crowded scene/location; adding detail - whether creating atmosphere and expression, or adding figures for scale and finally, advice is given on drawing imaginatively and how to visualize your thoughts confidently. It is fully illustrated with examples of how to draw perspective in the urban and natural landscape.
Sketching Perspective by Ilga Leimanis

About the author

Ilga Leimanis is a visual artist, educator and consultant based in London. She regularly teaches at the University of the Arts London and the Building Centre, and advises companies on drawing, sketching and creative practice. Her own work explores contemporary issues of identity and collaboration. Among other initiatives, Ilga founded Drawn in London, a monthly urban sketching group, in 2007.

Press Reviews

Since I teach perspective as part of the Drawing course I am always interested in finding new ways to explain the subject. The book - Sketching Perspective - by Ilga Leimanis starts in a way I found inviting. Her examples seem free and spontaneous. Her perspective examples seem approachable rather than technically intimidating as some complex technical perspective drawings. There is a chapter called Reconstructing Space from Memory or Imagination - interesting. It's a topic I’ve never seen addressed in a book about perspective. I thought it was a good book and covered the subject well.

- Mark Leibowitz

Ilga is an urban sketcher, so perspective is central to her craft. She also, as is common with the genre, works quickly and loosely, so you won’t find architectural or measured drawings here, and hooray for that. What mainly sets this apart from other books on perspective is the way Ilga uses the technique in very fluid drawings that capture character as much as appearance. Only you can decide whether this works for you but, if it does, it should be rather successful.

- Henry Malt

Through a series of well-explained sections, Ilga shows you how to look at the subject before you and to break each area down so that you understand completely how to tackle perspective with speed and confidence in a range of materials.

- Jane Stroud

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