Determining a station point for a perspective drawing?

Question

For simple perspective drawings, you don't really need to get into having a station point (or vantage point, not vanishing point) at all. As I'm looking at more complex methods, a station point becomes necessary to map your plan to to perspective layout.Are there guidelines for determining where to place the station point? Is it arbitrary? I found a [tutorial](http://guidetodrawing.com/linear-perspective/two-point-perspective/) that explains that it relates to how far the viewer is from the object, and that moving it vertically adjusts that apparent distance. Yet, it says to always place directly below a certain point, which I'm not sure is necessary. I'm wondering how its vertical distance from the horizon line and/or picture plane, or its horizontal distance from the vanishing points, might affect the level of distortion of the object in perspective.

Answer 1

I think you are over thinking the problem. The most important thing to understand about perspective is that it is a tool, not the answer to how to draw. I know that sounds complex, but perspective is only accurate to what the eye sees in an area that is an oval, that is located in the center 85% of a drawing. Exterior edges of perspective drawing are distorted. Take a look at the old masters. They used perspective in the center of their painting and just made the objects look good along the edges. Glenn C.