What does two-point perspective look like?
corner view of a building
© Felix Caretto
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 set
of parallel lines, the verticals, are still straight up-and-down. It sounds confusing written out like that, but you know
how it looks, and if you follow the steps, you'll find it is quite simple to construct.
A box in two-point perspective.
H South
Here's a photograph of a box on a table. As with the one-point example, the line across the back is not the horizon
line - it's the edge of the table, and is lower than my eye level, and so, lower than the horizon. If we continue the
lines made by the edges of the box, they meet at two points above the table - at eye level.
Note the extra space I've had to add around the image to fit the vanishing points on the page - when you draw twopoint perspective, close vanishing points make your image look compressed, as though through a wide-angle lens. For
best results, use an extra-long ruler, and use wide paper from a roll, or tape extra sheets to each side. (You can also
tape your drawing to the table, and place your vanishing points on a piece of tape placed out to the side.)
Draw the horizon line and vanishing points
H South
Let's draw a simple box using two-point perspective. First, draw a horizon line about one-third down your page. Place
your vanishing points on the edges of your paper using a small dot or line.
Place the front edge
H South
Now draw the front corner edge of your box, just a simple short line like this, leaving a space below the horizon line.
Don't put it too close, or you'll end up with corners that are tricky to draw.
Draw the first vanishing lines
H South
Now draw a line from each end of the line to both vanishing points, like this. Make sure they are straight, touch the
very end of the line, and finish exactly at the vanishing point.
Add two more corners
H South
Now we complete the visible sides of the box by drawing the corners, shown here with red lines. Draw yours likewise,
making sure they are nice and square, at perfect right angles to the horizon line. Not even a hint of a tilt!
Draw more vanishing lines
H South
This is the tricky part. Drawing the back, hidden sides of the box. You need to draw two sets of vanishing lines. One
set goes from the right-hand corner line (top and bottom) to the LEFT VP (VP1). Another set goes from the left-hand
corner line to the RIGHT VP (VP2). They cross over.
Make sure you don't try to make any lines meet, don't draw lines to any other corners, and don't worry about any of
the other lines they might pass through. Just draw straight from the end of each back line to its opposing VP, as in the
example above.
Find the back corner
H South
Now 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 example. Sometimes this can be tricky - the slightest of errors can make them
a little off center. If this happens, either start again making your drawing more accurate, or make a 'best fit', keeping
your line vertical and fitting it between the corners as best you can. Don't just join the corners with a tilted line, as
that will make the box misshapen.
Finish your 2-point perspective box drawing
H South
Finish off your two-point perspective box by erasing the excess vanishing lines. You can erase the lines of the box that
would be hidden by they closer sides, or leave them visible if it is transparent. In this example, the top of the box is
open, so you can see part of the back corner.
More two point perspective examples
H South
Here are a few more two point perspective examples. The steps are just the same as before, but the results look a
little different depending on where you draw them.
Drawing Two-Point Perspective
By Helen South, About.com
http://drawsketch.about.com/od/perspective/ss/2ptperspective.htm