The art of perspective

.....the art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other.....

.....particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view.....

Growing up, my mother illustrated and explained the right way to draw angles, shadows and reflections. I was easily frustrated and gave up trying to draw 3-dimensional objects on 2-dimensional surfaces. The remains of those lessons: I can draw a teacup on a saucer, a glass with a straw in it and different angled boxes at a grade three skill-level. 

I forgot about this when I was looking for easy summer credits as an undergraduate student and registered for an art course at the University of Toronto. I wanted a chance to experiment, be playful and explore my creative side.  I got a D+.  Drawing perspective was worse than learning math and for me, math is the worst.

While drawing perspective stumps me, having perspective intrigues and motivates me. The value of perspective is that it helps resist some of our judgments, rules and standards that we impose on others and ourselves. It unlocks our habitual views. Pulling back and looking from multiple vantage points captures the broader 3-dimensional experience that we live in. I derive energy from insight into possibilities and explanations.

As a coach, I pay attention to the client’s preference for a particular perspective. Sometimes his/her preferred way of seeing means losing out on the contribution that another perspective might provide. With time, a client discovers new ways of seeing and appreciating alternate perspectives. 

For me, learning to have perspective is easier than learning how to draw perspective!

What are your thoughts on the art of perspective? 

Keep you posted,
Coach Minda