This project in one-point perspective is suitable for elementary students in second through sixth grades. Use 12-inch by 18-inch white or off-white tag board, held vertically. In pencil, draw a horizon line across the page about six inches from the top. Choose one point on the horizon line to be the single vanishing point--the point at which all perspective lines converge. From this point, use a ruler to draw straight lines to both sides and the bottom of the sheet. These converging lines denote the rows of the pumpkin field. The largest pumpkins will be drawn at the bottom of the page, getting smaller and smaller towards the vanishing point. Draw a scarecrow on one side of the field. The scarecrow's head should intersect the horizon line, while the feet should be within an inch of the bottom of the paper. The size tells the viewer that the scarecrow is tall and close; the field appears to run a long way behind it. Erase any overlapping elements that are now "behind" the scarecrow. The finished drawing should be painted in watercolor paints, and may be outlined in black fine-point marker when dry.
This project is appropriate for students in sixth grade and up. Begin with a 12-inch by 18-inch heavy white construction paper centered and taped lightly to an 18-inch by 24-inch tag board. Hold horizontally. Use a ruler and pencil to measure and draw a horizon line that is 4 inches down from the top of the white paper and runs from left to right across both sheets of paper. Mark a point 1 inch from each edge on both sides. These two vanishing points on the horizon will not appear on the finished drawing but will provide reference points for the rest of the drawing. Choose a point about 4 inches up from the bottom of the white paper, towards the center but off to one side, and mark it. Use the ruler to connect that mark to each vanishing point. Draw a vertical line from this point to above the horizon line. These lines now describe the corner of a building at the viewer's vantage point. Now draw lines from the top of the vertical line to the vanishing points. Each side of the building now appears to diminish in the distance. For consistency, all additional lines that denote the tops and bottoms of doors and windows should be drawn as ruled lines that follow a path from the the corner of the building to the vanishing points on either side. Erase extraneous guide lines when the drawing is finished. Add color with tempera, acrylic, or watercolor paints.
This assignment is useful for all grades from early elementary through high school. Hold a sheet of 12-inch by 18-inch watercolor or heavy white construction paper vertically or horizontally. Draw four curving or wavy lines across the page to represent a series of hillsides. The sky is represented by the area above the top line. The area below the bottom line is the foreground; the area closest to the viewer. From the bottom up, each line represents an area farther away from the foreground. Choose a shade of green chalk pastel to color the foreground in long horizontal strokes and blend. Add a little red or yellow for brightness and interest. For the next area, use some of the original green, some gray or brown and some white to produce a shade of green that is lighter and grayer than the foreground. Continue lightening and graying each section towards the top of the page. Color the sky in pale blues, gray and whites. A black pastel or charcoal may be used to add a few trees in the foreground.