Before we draw cities, landscapes, or dynamic scenes, we need to understand the foundation of perspective. Think of this section as the blueprint for creating realistic and immersive artwork. Mastering these basics will unlock the power to bring depth and dimension to your drawings, whether you’re working with traditional pen and ink or digital tools.

Types of perspective drawings

Perspective Introduction
Drawing WarmUps
1 Point Perspective
Foreshortening
2 Point Perspective
3 Point Perspective
4 Point perspective
Curved Points
Isometric Drawing
Orthographic
Light and Shadow
Rendering Techniques - (Shading and Finishing)

Understanding the Horizon Line

Horizon line (Eye Level) - Dividing the sky from the ground
- Below the horizon line, we see the top of an object
- Above the horizon line, we can see the bottom of an object

Understanding the Horizon Line

At its core, the horizon line is your drawing’s anchor. In your scene, it represents the viewer’s eye level and the dividing line between the sky and the ground.

Why It Matters:

The horizon line determines the perspective of everything in your drawing. Objects above the horizon line appear as if you’re looking up at them, while objects below it seem` as if you’re looking down.

How to Use It:

When starting a drawing, lightly sketch the horizon line across your paper. This simple step will guide you to where your vanishing points and objects will sit in the scene.

Visual Example:

Imagine a long road stretching into the distance. The horizon line runs across the middle, with the road and other elements like trees or buildings receding toward it.

Vanishing Points: Where the Magic Happens

Vanishing points are where parallel lines in your drawing appear to converge as they recede into the distance. They’re what make your drawings look three-dimensional.

Single Vanishing Point:

Used in one-point perspective (e.g., a hallway or road). All lines converge at one point on the horizon line.

Multiple Vanishing Points:

The two-point perspective uses two vanishing points for more dynamic scenes, like a street corner. Three-point perspective adds a third point, often above or below, for dramatic angles.

XYZ - Axis

The x is horizontal, the Y is vertical, and the Z is how deep your object is. In a 2D perspective drawing or 3D projection, the X, Y, and Z axes represent the three dimensions of height, width, and depth. The X-axis is usually seen as the horizon line.

Pro Tip:

Keep vanishing points far apart on your horizon line for a more natural look. If they’re too close, your drawing might look distorted.

Perspective Key Terms

To speak the language of perspective, you’ll need to understand a few essential terms:

Orthogonal Lines: Lines that recede toward the vanishing point. For example, the edges of a road or the sides of a building.
Foreshortening: The visual compression of objects as they recede into space, making them appear smaller. Foreshortening: portray or show (an object or view) as closer than it is or as having less depth or distance, as an effect of perspective or the angle of vision.
Picture Plane: The imaginary flat surface on which your drawing exists—essentially, your “window” into the scene.
Plane (Faces): The surface of and side of a shape
Building Depth with Overlapping and Scale: While vanishing points and orthogonal lines create perspective, depth is enhanced by overlapping objects and varying their size.
Overlapping: Place objects in front of each other to show which is closer. For example, draw a tree partially covering a building to indicate the tree is in the foreground.
Scaling: Objects closer to the viewer should appear more prominent, while distant objects shrink in size. This effect is especially noticeable in repetitive elements like rows of streetlights or fences.
Vanishing Point (VP): The point where receding parallel lines viewed in perspective appear and converge. Vanishing points can appear from anywhere and at any angle.

Left Vanishing Point (LVP)
Right Vanishing Point (RVP)
Top Vanishing Point (TVP)
Bottom Vanishing Point (BVP)

Vertical Lines (Vertices): Going from top to bottom or bottom to top
Horizontal Linel: Going from left to right or right to left
Draft lines (drawing through): dotted lines showing the line not visible and an angle
Edges: Edges of a shape
Parallel lines: Identical lines following the same direction
Curved Edges: Warping / curved perspectives
Skewed vertical: Within 3 point perspective

Practice Exercise: Perspective Basics

Let’s put these concepts into action with a simple exercise:
Draw the Horizon Line: Lightly sketch a horizontal line across your paper.
Add a Vanishing Point: Place a small dot anywhere on the horizon line.
Sketch Orthogonal Lines: From the vanishing point, draw lines radiating outward. These will guide the depth of your objects.
Create Shapes: Draw a series of rectangles or cubes along the orthogonal lines. Make sure their sides align with the lines as they recede.
Experiment: Add a second vanishing point on the horizon line and try a two-point perspective for more complexity.

The Basics in Action

By understanding the horizon line, vanishing points, and the role of overlapping and scale, you’re already building the framework for stunning, lifelike scenes. These basics might feel mechanical at first, but they’ll soon become second nature, empowering you to create art that feels immersive and real.

Next up, we’ll explore how these principles come to life in one-point perspective, the perfect starting point for mastering perspective drawing.

Tools to get you going

I use these sketches and notepads for my work. I’ve tried a few, and these are the ones I found to be quality. Yes, you can get a fancy iPad, but there is nothing like good paper and pencil to get the creative juices going. Product image links are from Amazon.