Perspective Drawing
One Point Perspective
1. Construct a cube (or a rectangular prism)
After completing the construction move the vanishing point to view the object
from different perspectives.
2. Construct a cylinder
Two Point Perspective
1. Construct a cube (or a rectangular prism)
2. Construct a cylinder
Summary
1. Construct a square pyramid (or a rectangular pyramid)
2. Construct a cone
Teacher Notes
One point perspective
Recommend that the object be constructed so that the eye level line is vertical on the
screen.
1. Construct cube (or a rectangular prism)
First construct a square (or a rectangle) by either
Plot the vanishing point and construct a line parallel to the base of the square through
the vanishing point.
Draw segments from the vertices of the square to the vanishing point.
Plot a point on one of the segments.
Complete the backside; make sure the base is parallel to the original square’s base.
Hide the lines and perspective segments
Connect all appropriate vertices with segments.
Make hidden sides dotted,
After completing the construction move the vanishing point to view the object
from different perspectives.
2. Construct a cylinder.
This one is difficult to get connecting lines that give a good perspective let students
try various points to form a good sketch.
Options:
1. May want 4 segments connecting the circles: two segments in line with the
vanishing point and two segments at a 90° rotation from these.
2. May want several freely located lines with hidden lines dotted.
Two point perspective
1. Construct a vertical segment.
Plot a vanishing point.
Construct a line perpendicular to the segment through the vanishing point, this is the
eye line.
Plot a second vanishing point on the eye line.
Draw segments from endpoints of the segment to the vanishing points.
Plot a point on each of the two lower segments, these give the front base edges.
Construct a parallel to the given segment through the newly plotted points.
Plot points at the two new intersection points.
Hide segments to vanishing points and lines parallel to points of the figure.
Draw segments for the sides of the prism.
Draw segments from the bottom two outer base vertices to the opposite vanishing
point.
Plot the point of intersection.
Hide the segments.
Draw segments connecting the lower vertices and make the segments dotted.
Repeat for the top two outer vertices.
Draw backside vertical segment and make it dotted.
Drag points around for different perspectives and to resize the sides of the object.
Dragging the points on the object will resize the sides; dragging the vanishing points
will give you different perspectives.
2. I have not been able to do.
General
1. Pyramid from a one point perspective:
Create the base of the pyramid:
Draw the front segment.
Plot the vanishing point and draw the eye line.
Draw segment from each endpoint to the vanishing point.
Plot a point on one segment.
Construct a line parallel to the given front segment through the point.
Plot point at the intersection with the other segment drawn to vanishing point.
Hide parallel line and segments to vanishing point.
Draw all the base segments.
Create the vertex for a right pyramid:
Construct the center of the base by plotting the point at the intersection of the
diagonals.
Construct line perpendicular to the eye line through the intersection point of the
diagonals of the base.
Plot a point on the perpendicular line which will be the vertex of the pyramid.
Hide the perpendicular line and the intersecting segments.
Complete the right pyramid:
Draw segments connecting all the vertices.
Make the hidden edges dotted.
2. Pyramid from two point perspective
Create the base of the pyramid:
Plot front base vertex.
Plot two vanishing points and draw the eye line through them.
Draw segments from front base vertex to each vanishing point.
Plot a point on each segment.
Draw segments from these points to vanishing points.
Plot point at the intersection of the two segments.
Hide segments that were drawn to the vanishing points.
Draw segments which will form the base of the pyramid.
Create the vertex for a right pyramid:
Draw segments for the diagonals of the base.
Construct perpendicular to the eye line through the intersection point of the
diagonals.
Plot a point on the perpendicular line which will represent the vertex of the
pyramid.
Hide the perpendicular line and the diagonals.
Complete the right pyramid:
Connect the vertices forming the edges of the pyramid.
Make any hidden segments dotted.