How To Draw 1 Point Perspective
Drawing with one point perspective can be a great way to make sure everything in your artwork looks consistent and believable. When it comes to how to draw a 1-point perspective, the key is understanding where to place the vanishing point. Knowing how to draw 1 point perspective requires a strong draw of basic geometric shapes, but it can open the door for complex scenes that look highly realistic.
To start, you’ll want to draw a horizon line about two-thirds of the way down your page. This horizontal line represents the viewer’s eye level and will be your foundation for the rest of the drawing. From there, you’ll need to identify a point that everything in your composition should eventually converge to, which is your vanishing point. To draw it, draw a line that branches off your horizon line in the direction you want your vanishing point to be. Strive for a line that’s parallel to the horizon line, or else it will make the perspective look twisted.
After you’ve identified the vanishing point, you can start sketching basic shapes, cubes, or scenes with your pencil. To make sure your drawing looks accurate, use a ruler to measure the exact distance from each corner of every object to the vanishing point. From that same point, draw parallel lines out all the edges of the object until it looks right. It’s all about making sure the lines converge at the same angle.
Once you’ve got the basics down and are comfortable with measuring the proportions of your 1 point perspective, you can start making more complex shapes and objects such as cylinders. To begin, draw two lines parallel to your horizon line. Connect them to the vanishing point via two more parallel lines. Now, connect the two points with two perpendicular lines that meet at the bottom corner to form the cylinder.
Once you master 1 point perspective, you can graduate to 2 point perspective, 3 point perspective, and more. That’ll give your artwork a convincing illusion of depth and will make it look more professional.
Creating the Background
When it comes to creating the background, vary the measurements between your vanishing point and the objects in your composition. Place anything close to the viewer at the top of your composition and further away objects at the bottom. Strive to create the illusion of background, midground, and foreground for a scene that looks natural and stunning.
For a more captivating environment, and of course to avoid a dull background, use a horizon line that gradually transitions from light to dark. This will create a subtle illusion of openness, and you can use your eraser to draw clouds and other details that will help add depth to your composition.
To even further expand your composition and bring it to life, add details such as textures and shadows. You can also draw a distant horizon line in front of or behind the main horizon to add depth and create a powerful atmosphere that’ll make your artwork stand out.
Using Reference Photos
One of the easiest ways to learn 1 point perspective is to look at reference photos to get an idea of how your artwork should look. Reference photos will give you an accurate idea of what the object should look like and how it should be drawn. Knowing how to draw 1 point perspective from an inspiring photo is much easier than trying to figure out how it should look from your head.
By studying the proportions and dimensions of various objects, you can get an understanding of how you need to compose your perspective drawing and what lengths and angles to use. Add a few more details from your reference and make it your own! Remember to look for images that are in the same direction as your vanishing point to make it easier to transfer them to the page.
Adding Realism
Adding realism to a 1 point perspective isn’t as hard as it may seem. To make your artwork look truly captivating, study the other elements of something you’re drawing — like its texture or color. Notice where the light falls and looks brighter, or darker, and incorporate that into your drawing as well.
Bring in elements of your surroundings, such as a chair, a table, a lamp, or a plant. To make your project stand out and give it an even more realistic look, add in highlights and shadows that’ll help make the viewer feel as if they’re part of the scene.
Adding Final Touches
When you’ve got the proportions and textures of your drawing nailed down, it’s time to give it a finishing touch. To add a sprinkle of romance to your artwork, add in a cool sky element. If you want to make it look even more vivid and lively from a distance, add some highlight and shadow that will make the scene feel as if it’s really alive.
Once you’re done, grab a black marker and use it to trace over your pencil lines to make it look sketchy, detailed, and professional. To top it off, color in your drawing and bring that extra bit of color and depth to the table.
Now that you’ve got a better understanding of how one can go about drawing a 1-point perspective drawing, get out there and practice! With enough practice, you’ll gain the confidence needed to create beautiful and realistic landscape compositions.
