To draw objects with hard angles, such as tables, chairs, desks, houses
—and even smaller objects such as books, frames, or jewelry boxes
—you need to have a basic understanding of how perspective works.
Otherwise, objects tend to look unconvincing and primitive. The
reality is that perspective affects most things we draw. It’s only a
matter of degree. Even the human figure is affected by perspective.
So you really can’t avoid it. But once you see how perspective
enhances your ability to draw, why would you want to?
The ovals are still at work here to keep our drawing symmetrical—
used as guidelines to create the top and bottom of the lampshade and
the top and bottom of the base. However, perspective will now force
us to alter the way we draw the ovals.
The body of the lamp is based on a cone that’s been chopped off
on the top. The lampshade and the base are both fashioned after
cones, too.