Michael spent many early years drawing still-lifes but converting those skills to furniture drawings proved difficult until he started using the Lawson perspective charts. It was a real “eureka” moment for him and he found he was able to draw pictures of his furniture ideas that really looked like what he had in mind. All the parts were to the same scale and even the table legs all appeared to rest on the floor, a detail that had previously escaped him.

Elevation drawings—where the top, side, and front of a piece of furniture are shown separately—are a common design tool, but they have two serious flaws: They isolate the three views from one another, and they don’t show perspective. That makes it difficult to visualize what the completed piece will look like. A perspective drawing of the same piece done with the aid of the charts shows exactly how it will look, allowing you to catch design problems before you begin to make it.  With some practice using the charts, drawing in 3D becomes second nature.

Perspective drawings are also a great tool when you’re building for someone else. A client, spouse, or friend is more likely to understand a perspective drawing than a set of elevations, and won’t be surprised when the piece is delivered. He has also found that using these perspective charts have become a quick way to create several variations of your original design.

You will learn, practice, and hone this invaluable and timeless skill of perspective drawing in an exploratory and fun way.