Ruler??

[Greywoods]

Hey guys I've got a question that has been worrying me. When making a somewhat complex perspective is it allright to use a ruler? Or will it gimp my skill developement? What do pros do? Like my favorite artist bengal :sungod:

Thanks for reading

[Farvus]

- Practice, Thumbnails, Doodles -> without ruler
- Finished accurate illustations, concepts -> mix of freehand and ruler (especially for longer lines)

[Greywoods]

Thank you! <3

[Maxine Schacker]

If it works, it's right.

[Greywoods]

Ah yes, Maxine, but I was talking about developing skill. Not jeust getting good results on one picture.
PS: how do I thank/groan at people? : )

[rpace]

Perspective isn't as much a skill as knowledge. Learning perspective generally requires a ruler, especially as things get more complex, so your untrained eye can see what really happens in space and you can learn to see the distortions that perspective drawing on 2D gives you. Using a ruler won't "gimp" you. I know professionals who use a ruler as if it were an additional finger. I also know a guy who just draws the most freakishly accurate architectural stuff freehand. It's up to you which direction you go in. Clients don't care how you do it as long as it looks good.

Learning to draw straight lines without a ruler requires drawing a very great deal and really isn't connected to perspective, really. Mentioned just in case you were wondering about that.

Faking perspective is a skill. It's what most people do when they're composiing or thumbnailing. When you know perspective well enough to properly visualize vanishing points and objects in space then you can probably get by sketching out your perspective.

I dunno -- the question seems a little odd. If you asked if using measuring spoons when baking complex recipes would affect your development as a baker I'd probably have the same feeling. I can understand where that sort of concern could develop and it's always better to ask a question than not.

Good luck!

~Richard

[Greywoods]

Thank rspace. : ) I really appreciate your response. And it has certainly calmed me some. Just to clarify I was concerned that my skill at drawing straight lines would be gimped not my perspective drawing..."skill".

[Eurayo]

Agree with the above.

I co-taught a rapid visualization class last fall and we taught the fundamentals of perspective through a series of freehand drawing exercises from Rapid Viz : A New Method for the Rapid Visualization of Ideas by Kurt Hanks & Larry Belliston. It is possible, with practice, and even useful, to be able to sketch believable perspective drawings without drawing tools, especially if you're trying to develop ideas quickly.