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.