Drawing basics, and this does translate to digital if you know how.

Most graphics programs have guides that you can drag in and some have options to change the angle. If you don't have guides or know how to use them, lines work - just not as well.

Perspective.
In drawing you will have what is called vanishing points. These are the infinite horizon that your eye can no longer distinguish details.

For your drawing there would be one center point where your road disappears. Then 4 perspective points to converge to the center point along with your horizontal and vertical horizions. These 6 lines represent your 3D veiwing axis and is also used in the modeling "cube" in 3D programs along with the "y" axis which you won't see in a linear project on the screen.

Attached is a representation of the vanishing points to your drawing.



The vanishing origins are the little red dots. These can be placed inside the picture or far outside, depending on how your perspective feels. You can move the green lines of axis around the page as long as they still intersect the vertical and horizon vanishing point. These will act as scale for the size of the object according to the vanishing point.

So now that you have a background you want to place an object in the picture and keep the same scale. This can get a bit tricky to scale different objects but I know of simple methods that will help you out.

I placed elephants to show proper scale and perspective. Then I placed a pepsi can to approximate size in the closest elephant. I drew linear lines to keep my pepsi can in perspective on the page. I can then move it anywhere along that line to keep it in perspective.

There's another can by the furthest elephant that I did not scale. Now the pepsi can looks to be as big as that elephant, when in fact it did not change size on the screen. If i need to place the can anywhere else on the screen I can use that object as a vanishing origin and draw my lines from that to the vanishing point to keep scale.



There are litterally tons of great things that you can accomplish once you understand vanishing points. Check out a beginners drawing book that partains to vanishing points and drawing architecture.

The two examples that I gave you for this particular instance is only a small part of what you need to learn to truely become good at doing landcapes, cityscapes, etc.

Good luck, I hope this helped.
=)
Jade

Drazan , Thanks for the extensive advise. However.. I apparently gave you the wrong impression with me 10 second mouse sketch. I was only trying to give you an idea of the exact size of tree I need. I have been through art school, and I remember perspective and vanishing points from high school.... but seriously, if I didnt know this stuff already, I'm confident that you would make a good teacher.

here is a sample of the little tree I came up with.

Thanks again.

Anyone needs a small tree, feel free to take a copy.

.

I like that cnic... nice job

heh, I zeroed in on "tough perspective". Oh well.

well said, Drazan... I am sure that your post will be helpful to others, even if it was not *exactly* what the original poster needed. Thanks for taking the time!