Another Way to Look at Things: 2 Point Perspective

During the Renaissance, artists became very interested in making two-dimensional artworks look three-dimensional. They used mathematics and close observation to invent "linear perspective"—a technique that allows artists to trick the eye into seeing great distances or 3-D forms in a 2-D artwork.

Many earlier artists were interested in showing depth, but the results were not always accurate.

Two-point perspective is useful to show an angle rather than face-on.

Example of Difference between 1 and 2 Point Perspective: Boxes

1 point: Front of box is not at an angle.

2 point: Front of box is at an angle

How to Begin a 2 point perspective drawing: Draw a horizon Line with a vanishing point at each end. Draw a vertical line below the horizon line

Draw Orthogonals from the top and bottom of the vertical line to both vanishing points: (Draw

Lightly

so you can erase!)

Draw 2 vertical lines between the orthogonals where the back edge of the form will be In 2 point perspective, most of your lines will be orthogonals or vertical… there are almost no horizontal lines

Draw 2 more Orthogonals, from the top edge of each back vertical line to the opposite vanishing point.

Go over the lines outlining the box, and erase all the orthogonals which are not part of the box.

This is what you should have: a box situated below the horizon line.

This also works very well for something which crosses the horizon line…. Such as a building.

Draw the horizon line with 2 vanishing points and put the vertical line intersecting the horizon line.

Draw Orthogonals from top and bottom of the vertical line through each vanishing point

Add the back two vertical lines

Erase the horizon line behind the box you’ve made. And erase the orthogonals where they extend past your box to the vanishing point.

What if this were a building? How would you make a door and windows?

All lines, other than the vertical lines, will go through the Vanishing points!

What if you were looking at a building on a hill? The whole thing might be higher than the horizon line (your eye level).

Horizon line

After drawing the first vertical line and the orthogonals that go to the vanishing points, draw the 2 back vertical lines.

Finish in the same way you did before. Horizon line

What if you have 2 buildings sitting side by side, but of 2 different sizes?

You do it the same way! Start with the one closest to you.

Extend the vertical line which is a shared edge of the 2 buildings to a higher level. Draw orthogonals as you did before, then draw verticals.

Erase extra orthogonals and the horizon line where it goes behind the buildings. Add Windows and doors. You can add a street with more orthogonals.

What about a peaked roof for a house top? Start the same way! Then find the center of the side that will have the peak. Make an “X” as shown below. Draw a vertical line that extends through the middle of the “x” up beyond the top orthogonal.

Draw the peak from the top of the center vertical line, touching and passing the corners of the building as shown in red. Draw Orthogonals from the place where your roof line stops through the vanishing point making the lower edge of the roof, and from the peak to the vanishing point making the top edge. (shown in Orange)

Draw another line for the back of the roof. This line is parallel to the angle of the front of the roof. Erase the extra Orthogonals and the horizon line behind the building.

Complete the lines for roof tops and bottom edges of roof. This will not look complete until the doors, windows, and shading is added.