Lesson 11 - Two-Point Perspective

While one-point perspective has one vanishing point, two-point perspective will have two vanishing points. The difference between the two is that with one-point perspective, the viewer is looking at the front of an object head-on, while with two-point perspective, the viewer is looking at the edge of an object.

Christopher Bliss (c) 2002 Christopher Bliss Photography	Ashley, Myer & Associates (Boston Architectural Center) (c) 2002 Mary Ann Sullivam. Photography	MC Escher, 1958. (c) 2002 Cordon Art - Holland. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Notice that vanishing points aren't always on your page, as in Escher's Belvedere.

The horizon line is shown as a blue line.

Assignment: Two-Point Perspective

Always draw lightly (whisper lines) because several parts of each line may be erased.
1.	Put your paper in landscape view.
2.	Draw a horizon line in the middle of your paper.
3.	Add two points on the ends of the horizon line to use as vanishing points
4.	Lightly draw a small vertical line below your horizon line in the center of your paper.
5.	Using whisper lines, draw a line from the top of your perpendicular line to each vanishing point (2 lines created)
6.	Using whisper lines, draw a line from the bottom of your perpendicular line to each vanishing point (2 lines created)
7.	You should now have a double "V" created. Another way to look at this is that you now have two triangles with a common line drawn on your paper. This will be a street that you will line buildings up on. Erase the original vertical line you started with.
8.	You may choose to extend the lines so that the street becomes an intersection. The lines closest to you should be darkest and the lines farthest away should be barely visible.
9.	Draw a line perpendicular to your horizon where the intersection is. Make sure this line extends beyond the horizon line. This is the front corner of your building. At this point, I usually get rid of the horizon line so things stay a little neater.
10.	Using whisper lines, draw a line from the top of your perpendicular line to each vanishing point (2 lines created).The street acts as the bottom of your building.
11.	Draw two more perpendicular lines within the triangles. These lines create the far walls of the building. The perpendicular lines do not have to be at equal distances from the original perpendicular line. Play with where the lines fall until you like the image. Lines close to the original perpendicular create a boxier and taller building.
12.	Now outline this shape and erase the whisper lines that extend past your building.
13.	Let's add some windows. Make an even number of dots down the front corner of the building.
14.	Extend these in one or both directions. Pointed toward their respective vanishing points.
15.	These could be full-length windows or separate. Drop vertical lines down to finish the windows. Erase your whisper lines.
16.	Next we'll draw a building that is below that horizon line so the viewer will be able to see the top of the building. So, draw a line that is below the horizon line keeping in mind that you don't want your building in the road.
17.	Extend whisper lines from the top and bottom of your new building. The road acted as one of my vanishing points in this case.
18.	Drop vertical lines in between your sets of whisper lines.
19.	Now look carefully at which direction the next set of whisper lines goes. The right side goes to the left vanishing point and vice versa.
20.	Now erase your whisper lines and darken up your lines for your new building. You could erase the road lines unless you wanted a glass building.
21.	Those are the basics behind buildings and two-point perspective. I'll show you some details, then let you play. Some stop lights might be entertaining. Remember, you always start with a vertical line and let horizontal lines go toward a vanishing point. Even the tops of the lights go to a vanishing point. There should be NO horizontal lines unless they are ON the horizon line.
22.	This was your practice drawing. Read carefully through what you will be graded on before you start your final drawing.

You will be graded on a 1-6 scale on the following:

• 4 buildings with tops above the horizon line in accurate two-point perspective
• 4 buildings with tops on the horizon line in accurate two-point perspective (the tops will be even with the vanishing points...completely horizontal)
• 4 buildings with tops below the horizon line in accurate two-point perspective
• Shows at least 5 instances of overlapping buildings
• Added at least 10 interesting components such as signs, stop lights, trees, balconies, etc., in accurate two-point perspective
• Creativity
• Craftsmanship
• All of your orthogonal lines recede to the vanishing point
• Buildings and details in front are sharp and dark, buildings in back are fuzzy and have low contrast
• Show 3 sides of the paper are touched

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