Another Way to Look at Things:

2 Point Perspective
DuringtheRenaissance,artistsbecamevery
interestedinmakingtwodimensionalartworkslook
threedimensional.Theyusedmathematicsandclose
observationtoinvent"linearperspective"atechnique
thatallowsartiststotricktheeyeintoseeinggreat
distancesor3Dformsina2Dartwork.
Manyearlierartistswereinterestedinshowing
depth,buttheresultswerenotalwaysaccurate.
Twopointperspectiveisusefultoshowananglerather
thanfaceon.

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 youve

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.