The Perspective Course by Marshall Vandruff

On June 25, 2026

Author:Marshall Vandruff

Duration:32h 2m

Actual Duration:28h 58m

Release date:2024, July

Publisher:Proko

Skill level:Intermediate

Language:English

Exercise files:Yes

Software:Pencil, Paper

Course URL:https://www.proko.com/course/the-perspective-course

Learn to see, imagine, and draw in perspective without the technical headaches, from a master teacher with decades of experience.

Marshall Vandruff’s The Perspective Course is the one he wishes he had as a kid. It’s a no-nonsense, practical guide to understanding and drawing perspective, broken into two major parts. You’ll go from the classic five secrets of depth to mastering complex forms, all without the usual math-induced headaches.

🎯 What you’ll learn

Draw any object, from boxes to bodies, in accurate perspective.
Use the five classic depth tricks: diminution, convergence, foreshortening, overlap, and atmosphere.
Construct grids and use the picture plane to solve complex spatial problems.
Master one, two, three, and even five-point perspective.
Draw freehand and organic forms with confidence.
Apply perspective to architectural visualization and character design.

✅ Requirements

Skills: A basic desire to draw from imagination or observation.
Tools: A sharp HB pencil, paper, and erasers.
Hardware: None.

📝 Description

This course is broken into two clear parts. Part 1 is all about understanding the core concepts. You’ll start with the five classic secrets that trick the eye into seeing depth—diminution, convergence, foreshortening, overlap, and atmosphere. Marshall then walks you through the history of perspective, showing how old masters used these tricks, before diving into the nuts and bolts: grids, eye level, the picture plane, and the XYZ framework. You’ll even tackle wide-angle and curvilinear perspective, learning how to exaggerate space believably.

Part 2 is where you master the skills. The big secret here is that if you can draw simple forms—boxes, cylinders, cones, and spheres—you can build anything. Marshall shows you how to place these forms in any position, measure depth on them, and eventually draw them freehand. The course is packed with demos from artists like Peter Han and Philip Dimitriadis, showing you how these principles apply to concept art, character design, and environments. It’s a practical, hands-on approach that builds real skill, not just theory.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

Beginners who are intimidated by perspective and want a clear, friendly introduction.
Intermediate artists who have a shaky grasp of perspective and want to solidify their foundation.
Any artist—from illustrators to concept artists—who wants to draw from imagination with confidence.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Marshall Vandruff is a legendary art instructor who has been teaching for over 30 years. He’s known for his ability to make complex subjects like perspective and anatomy accessible and even fun. His teaching has influenced countless professional artists, and his courses are a staple for anyone serious about improving their drawing fundamentals. He teaches creatives how to see and think in 3D.

🏁 Final Result

The ability to draw any object, from a simple cube to a complex spiral staircase, in accurate perspective.
A strong, intuitive sense of space that allows you to draw from imagination without relying on rulers or grids.
A portfolio of exercises and projects demonstrating your understanding of one, two, three, and five-point perspective.

Curriculum

📋 Course content

Part 1: Understanding Perspective (113 lessons)
1. Intro to Perspective (7 lessons)
  - Assignment — Perspective for Drawing Anything08:55
  - Perspective: A 600-Year Journey06:42
  - Analyzing Hiroshi Yoshida’s Rapids02:29
  - Simplifying Jack Frost’s Palace02:59
  - Simplifying Complex Perspective07:24
  - Critique — Collecting Masters57:46
  - How to Choose Artworks for Learning Perspective11:55
2. Materials to Spare You Pain (12 lessons)
  - Simple Tools For Perfect Perspective Drawing11:58
  - Assignment — Isometric Optical Illusions06:48
  - Working in Stages vs Spontaneously06:21
  - Sketchbook Spontaneity09:14
  - Straight Line Discipline with Peter Han15:49
  - Triangles Make All Angles05:07
  - Inside the Mind of a Concept Artist with Phil Dimitriadis16:36
  - Using Graph Paper For Perspective04:19
  - Critique — Isometric Optical Illusions33:31
  - Assignment — Know Your Tools Challenge02:20
  - 21st Century Professionals07:12
  - Critique — Know Your Tools Challenge07:52
3. Depth Tricks and Old Masters (4 lessons)
  - Assignment — 5 Tricks to Make Your Drawings Look 3D12:17
  - How Masters Create the Illusion10:23
  - Drawing Complex Objects from Memory with Peter Han29:05
  - Critique — 5 Tricks to Make Your Drawings Look 3D29:18
4. Intro to Forms (10 lessons)
  - Assignment — The Secret of Simple Forms08:42
  - The Blob Approach to Form06:34
  - Objects and Environments07:31
  - 3D Model: Airplane
  - Critique — The Secret of Simple Forms32:49
  - From Blobs to Airplanes31:54
  - How to Mechanize Organic Forms21:15
  - Assignment — Melted Pancakes with Philip Dimitriadis42:47
  - Assignment — Melted Pancakes with Philip Dimitriadis — Part 242:45
  - Critique — Melted Pancakes11:40
5. Orthos and One Point (3 lessons)
  - Assignment — How to Draw in One-Point Perspective05:50
  - Assignment — One-Point Letters10:07
  - Critique — One-Point Letters26:13
6. Orthos and No Point (6 lessons)
  - Assignment — What is Zero Point Perspective?!09:10
  - Understanding Orthographic Views05:26
  - Orthographic Airplane Demo35:11
  - Assignment — Orthos to Invented Form05:49
  - Critique — What is Zero Point Perspective?!34:02
  - Critique — Orthos to Invented Form12:53
7. XYZ (19 lessons)
  - Assignment — XYZ: The Framework for Drawing in 3D10:11
  - 3D Model: Model Airplane 2
  - 3D Model: Hexagon 1
  - 3D Model: Hexagon 2
  - 3D Model: Stepped Shape
  - 3D Model: Lounge Chair
  - 3D Model: Right Angled Shape
  - 3D Model: Model Airplane 1
  - 3D Model: Sloped Shape 1
  - 3D Model: Sloped Shape 2
  - 3D Model: Sloped Shape 3
  - 3D Model: Booth with Rotating Table
  - Assignment — Labeling Lines for Spatial Understanding06:56
  - Assignment — Arrows in Every Direction07:04
  - Assignment — How I Tipped the Arrows11:09
  - Critique — XYZ: The Framework for Drawing in 3D37:46
  - Critique — Arrows in Every Direction & How I Tipped the Arrows20:05
  - How to Bend and Twist an Arrow32:07
  - How to Curve an Arrow28:28
8. Grids (6 lessons)
  - Assignment — Why You Need to be Drawing with Grids09:07
  - Eyeballing Proportions — Demo 124:34
  - Eyeballing Proportions — Demo 219:05
  - Understanding Kim Jung Gi’s Box Method05:19
  - 3 Ways to Slice Any Form03:41
  - Critique — Why You Need to be Drawing with Grids28:36
9. Eye Level (9 lessons)
  - Assignment — How to Draw Above and Below Eye Level10:54
  - Anvil In Perspective — Above View32:54
  - Anvil In Perspective — Eye Level View24:52
  - Anvil In Perspective — Below View32:53
  - Swivel the Page03:25
  - Visualizing Forms in 3D Space with Peter Han21:22
  - Proximity’s Impact on Perspective04:14
  - Who’s Eye Level01:58
  - Critique — How to Draw Above and Below Eye Level31:10
10. The Picture Plane (9 lessons)
  - Solving Perspective Problems with the Picture Plane10:02
  - Assignment — Plan Projection01:39
  - How to Create a Plan Projection14:16
  - How to Draw Objects Off the Picture Plane19:43
  - Improve Your Drawing Accuracy & Depth Perception22:46
  - Ortho Demo for a Simple Structure Projection21:18
  - Cottage Projection Demo33:50
  - Cottage Crossing the Picture Plane Demo39:13
  - Critique — Plan Projection15:25
11. Wide Angles (14 lessons)
  - Assignment — How to Draw Crazy Perspective09:25
  - How to Draw Wide-Angle Poses with Peter Han44:11
  - Projection Demo — Wide-Angle15:20
  - Projection Demo — Extreme Wide-Angle13:41
  - One Point Mystery03:07
  - Five-Point Perspective Explained11:04
  - Panoramas Unlock Curvilinear Knowledge10:27
  - Critique — How to Draw Crazy Perspective21:16
  - The Perspective Behind Cinematic Shots with Philip Dimitriadis12:26
  - 4 Point Grids and Curved Perspective with Philip Dimitriadis29:30
  - Basics of the 4-Point Upshot with Philip Dimitriadis19:00
  - How to Draw a Five-Point Down Shot with Philip Dimitriadis20:10
  - Fish-Eye Perspective with Peter Han41:00
  - 5-Point Perspective with Peter Han35:15
12. Proximity Tricks (9 lessons)
  - Assignment — How to Draw With Depth and Proximity11:23
  - Assignment — Trajectory06:54
  - Close vs Far05:10
  - The Illusion of Depth04:30
  - How Distance Changes Your Drawing03:41
  - Critique — Proximity & Trajectory48:23
  - Close vs Far — Extra Examples11:25
  - Assignment — Design Your Dream Studio04:12
  - Critique — Design Your Dream Studio58:18
13. Forms — The Great Secret (3 lessons)
  - Intro to Forms07:03
  - Peter Han Draws Heads in Every Direction32:38
  - Sketch Analysis — Rembert Montald33:19
14. Bonus Lessons (2 lessons)
  - Let’s Try Again — A Proko Short Film01:45
  - Zolly: The Ultimate Perspective Tool02:03
Part 2: Mastering the Skills (8 lessons)
1. Why Cubes Rule (6 lessons)
  - Assignment — Control Depth on Paper with a Simple Box12:21
  - Piano in Perspective Demo with Yves Yumol26:07
  - Horizon Lines with Yves Yumol03:04
  - Square Sets Depth07:54
  - Daniel Cherng Chair Demos35:01
  - Critique — Control Depth on Paper with a Simple Box36:02
2. Tumbling Cubes and Non-Level Forms (3 lessons)
  - Assignment — Tumble Cubes11:09
  - The Vanishing Trace22:50
  - Flap Tricks