Vanishing Point

Vanishing Point

The vanishing point is the point at which receding parallel lines, when viewed in perspective, seem to converge.

A vanishing point, also known as a point of convergence, plays a crucial role in many artistic works. In linear perspective drawing, the vanishing point is the point on the horizon line to which parallel lines appear to converge as they recede into the distance. This concept is essential for creating drawings, paintings, and photographs that convey a three-dimensional appearance.

A straightforward real-life example of this is standing in the middle of a straight road. In this scenario, you'll notice how the road's sides and the painted lines on it all meet at a single point on the horizon. The centre line leads directly to this point, and the side lines converge toward it until they all intersect. This intersection point is the vanishing point.


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Parra's studio, with Parra at the centre, his back to the camera as he works on the large painting takes centre stage, showing a faceless blue woman in a striped dress, painted in red, purple, blue and teal. The studio is full of brightly coloured paints, with a large window on the right and a patterned rug across the floor under the painting.