Short answer
Draw each layer farther back lighter, with less contrast and less detail. Keep the darkest darks, the hardest edges and the finest detail in the foreground. In graphite, that means harder, lighter pencils and lighter pressure for distant layers, and soft pencils at the front.
The four layer exercise
Step 1 of 4
Far range: outline only
Draw the farthest range as a single thin, light line with a 2H or HB and almost no pressure. No shading, no detail.
Step 2 of 4
Second range: light tone
Draw the second range overlapping it. Fill it with a light, even tone.
Step 3 of 4
Third range: mid tone
Draw the third range in front with a clearly darker tone and a firmer outline.
Step 4 of 4
Near ground: darkest, sharpest
Draw the foreground darkest of all, with a soft pencil, and add detail only here: dark pines with sharp edges.
Blue lines: added in that step. Gray: already drawn.
What changes with distance
Near versus far
| Quality | Foreground | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Full range, true darks | Light, close to the sky |
| Contrast | Strong light and shadow | Light and shadow nearly the same |
| Edges | Sharp | Soft or lost |
| Detail | Texture, leaves, cracks | Silhouettes only |
| Color | Full, warm | Cooler, bluer, grayer |
Where the idea comes from
The National Gallery in London defines aerial perspective as the effect air has on the appearance of distant objects, used by painters to suggest depth (National Gallery glossary). Leonardo da Vinci described distant mountains growing bluer and less distinct the farther away they were (Leonardo, in his own words), and his own explanation of why was only partly right (Wikipedia). For a pencil drawing, the practical rule is enough: farther means lighter and softer.
Common mistakes
- Dark outlines on far mountains. One heavy line pulls a distant range right to the front.
- Detail in the distance. Individual trees on a far ridge flatten the drawing.
- Everything the same middle gray. The layers need clear steps of value. Plan them with a value scale.
What you need
- Pencil set, 2H to 6B hard for distance, soft for the frontFind it
Use it with mountains and linear perspective.
Questions people ask
What is atmospheric perspective?
The effect air has on how distant things look: they appear less distinct and, in color, bluer. Painters imitate it to create depth. It is also called aerial perspective.
Who discovered atmospheric perspective?
The effect was used long before him, but Leonardo da Vinci studied it closely and wrote rules for it, noting that distant mountains look bluer and less distinct than near ones.
How do I show atmospheric perspective in pencil?
Without color, use value, contrast and edges. Far layers: light value, small difference between light and shadow, soft edges, no detail. Near layers: full value range, crisp edges, texture.
Does atmospheric perspective work in pen?
Yes. Use thinner pens and sparser hatching in the distance, thicker lines and denser hatching in front. Leaving far shapes as a single thin outline works well.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Product lines and listings change; check the details before you buy.