| Any good drawing illustration starts with the | | | | horizon line and vanishing point. Now, instead of |
| proverbial " line ." It just simply means grabbing your | | | | drawing the lines connecting from the vanishing point |
| pen and marking a straight line on a clean sheet of | | | | below the horizon line, try drawing the lines above it. |
| paper from points A and B. An ordinary person with | | | | You'll notice that the cube appears to float in midair. |
| no good understanding behind the basics of | | | | The Two-Point Perspective |
| perspective drawing will nonetheless see that | | | | You've already learned the basic way of drawing a |
| something's missing in your illustration: It just doesn't | | | | perspective. On a new sheet of paper, draw again |
| look real. | | | | your horizon line, but this time - add two vanishing |
| At one point, you even ask yourself why after all | | | | points, each of which is opposite to one another ( |
| those times of study and practice on creating the | | | | imagine drawing a segmented line ). Now, draw the |
| most accurate and visually stimulating piece of art | | | | lines outward from these two vanishing points and |
| relies so much on lines and rulers. It is so much easy | | | | add vertical lines to make your cube. You will notice |
| to do it freehand and just let the magic flow. Even | | | | that the vertical lines appear to be parallel. You will |
| the most seasoned artist would tell you that lines - | | | | feel like you are looking up at the top half and |
| will always be an artist's best friend. | | | | bottom half of the cube. |
| Creating an An Illusion | | | | Like in one point perspective, you can make the |
| The goal of your illustration is to make a mental | | | | object appear to be on top by just drawing lines |
| impression on a viewer and make the drawing of | | | | above the horizontal line. This comes handy when |
| your 3-dimensional depth as realistic as possible, even | | | | you are drawing any flying objects like jets. |
| when the visual dodge in the process has been | | | | If you want to draw an aerial view or a " bird's eye |
| revealed. Just imagine that when an object or place is | | | | view " - you may just draw anything below the |
| nearer, it becomes larger and the farther it is, the | | | | horizon line to create an impression of looking down |
| smaller it appears. This is just a basic observation | | | | at it. |
| that even a person without an art background could | | | | Moving Forward |
| tell you. In order to create a believable illustration, one | | | | If you have mastered the two steps above, then it's |
| should also consider symmetry - which will be applied | | | | time to try your hand on advanced drawing: the |
| to these three types of drawing perspectives: | | | | 3-Point Perspective. As the name implies, this means |
| The One-Point Perspective | | | | adding a third vanishing point in your drawing. This will |
| Start by drawing a horizontal line on your paper and | | | | give us a panoramic view, either we are looking up or |
| mark it with the initials HL (just for your reference). | | | | down at an object. The trick here is to first do the |
| This is the line of the setting farthest from you. It is | | | | basics of a 2-Point Perspective, then adding the third |
| also called the " eye level " since it is always at the | | | | point above or below the horizon line. |
| eye level of the artist. This line is usually drawn | | | | This type of drawing requires you to widely place |
| parallel to the top and bottom of your paper. | | | | the first two points in order for you to get an angle |
| Now, add a dot at the center of the line and mark it | | | | that you are looking for. This may be hard to do at |
| with the initials VP. This is the vanishing point where | | | | first but with enough practice, you will learn to |
| all the receding lines of the picture appear to merge. | | | | master it in no time. In fact, you have already |
| You may then use both the horizon line and vanishing | | | | learned the first two and you will be able to break |
| point to make an object appear large or small. You | | | | these rules by adding a twist on your drawing - to |
| may draw some lines fanning out from the vanishing | | | | create a variety of views. |
| point to make an outline of a cube. You will notice | | | | Build your confidence and you will not need to draw |
| that the lines forming at the front and back of the | | | | these perspectives in your future illustrations. Your |
| cube are strictly parallel, at right angles, to the horizon | | | | freehand sketch may not be totally accurate, but it is |
| line. | | | | almost next to the real thing. |
| Try this: Draw on another sheet of paper a new | | | | |