Two point perspective tutorial

In perspective drawing, every set of parallel lines has its own vanishing point. When
viewing things in two-point perspective, we arrange them (or ourselves) so that we are
looking at one corner, with two sets of parallel lines (the horizontals on the front and one
side) are moving away from us, at an angle to a vanishing point. The remaining sets of
parallel lines, the verticals, are still straight up-and-down.
ere!s a photograph of a "o# on a ta"le. $s with the one-point e#ample, the line across
the "ack is not the horizon line - it!s the edge of the ta"le, and is lower than my eye level,
and so, lower than the horizon. If we continue the lines made "y the edges of the "o#,
they meet at two points a"ove the ta"le - at eye level.
%ote the e#tra space I!ve had to add around the image to fit the vanishing points on the
page - when you draw two-point perspective, close vanishing points make your image look
compressed, as though through a wide-angle lens. &or "est results, use an e#tra-long
ruler, and use wide paper from a roll, or tape e#tra sheets to each side. ('ou can also tape
your drawing to the ta"le, and place your vanishing points on a piece of tape placed out to
the side.)
(et!s draw a simple "o# using two-point perspective. &irst, draw a horizon line a"out one-
third down your page. )lace your vanishing points on the edges of your paper using a
small dot or line.
%ow draw the front corner edge of your "o#, *ust a simple short line like this, leaving a
space "elow the horizon line. +on!t put it too close, or you!ll end up with corners that are
tricky to draw.
%ow draw a line from each end of the line to "oth vanishing points, like this. ,ake sure
they are straight, touch the very end of the line, and finish e#actly at the vanishing point.
%ow we complete the visi"le sides of the "o# "y drawing the corners, shown here with red
lines. +raw yours likewise, making sure they are nice and s-uare, at perfect right angles to
the horizon line. %ot even a hint of a tilt.
This is the tricky part. +rawing the "ack, hidden sides of the "o#. 'ou need to draw two
sets of vanishing lines. /ne set goes from the right-hand corner line (top and "ottom) to
the (0&T 1) (1)2). $nother set goes from the left-hand corner line to the 3I4T 1) (1)5).
They cross over.
,ake sure you don!t try to make any lines meet, don!t draw lines to any other corners, and
don!t worry a"out any of the other lines they might pass through. 6ust draw straight from
the end of each "ack line to its opposing 1), as in the e#ample a"ove.
%ow you simply have to draw a vertical line from the where the lower two vanishing lines
cross, to the intersection of the upper two lines - the red line in the e#ample. 7ometimes
this can "e tricky - the slightest of errors can make them a little off centre. If this happens,
either start again making your drawing more accurate, or make a !"est fit!, keeping your
line vertical and fitting it "etween the corners as "est you can. +on!t *ust *oin the corners
with a tilted line, as that will make the "o# misshapen.
&inish off your two-point perspective "o# "y erasing the e#cess vanishing lines. 'ou can
erase the lines of the "o# that would "e hidden "y they closer sides, or leave them visi"le
if it is transparent. In this e#ample, the top of the "o# is open, so you can see part of the
"ack corner.
ere are a few more two point perspective e#amples. The steps are *ust the same as
"efore, "ut the results look a little different depending on where you draw them.