Perspective Drawing for Beginners — You Only Need to Understand THIS, by Can I Learn To Draw ? on YouTube. 57 min 29 s.
- Video length
- 57 min 29 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Start by simplifying the scene in front of you into a few basic boxes. Ignore small details and look only at the large shapes and their angles.
Draw a horizon line across your page at the height of your eye. Everything above it sits higher than you and everything below sits lower.
Mark one vanishing point on the horizon line. Draw light lines from the corners of your box back to that point to check the angles.
Compare the edges of your box to the lines going to the vanishing point. Adjust the box until its sides line up with those guide lines.
Apply the same check to every object in the scene, not just the first box. Each shape follows the same rules about the horizon and vanishing point.
Practice on a few different scenes, such as a room, a street and a table of objects. Keep the construction lines light so you can erase them later.
Darken the final outlines once the angles look right, then erase the guide lines. Add shading or detail only after the structure is correct.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep your construction lines very light so mistakes are easy to erase.
Check angles by holding your pencil up against the edge in the scene, then compare it to your drawing.
Draw the whole box, including hidden edges, so you can see if the shape makes sense.
Practice small sketches often rather than one long session, since the rules sink in with repetition.
Questions
Do I need to learn one, two and three point perspective separately?
No. The video argues that one set of rules about the horizon and vanishing points covers every situation. Learn that first, then the named grids make more sense.
How long does it take to get good at perspective?
It depends on how often you practice. Short daily sketches of simple boxes and rooms will improve your eye faster than occasional long sessions.
What should I draw first?
Start with a single box on a table, then move to a corner of a room. Simple scenes let you check the angles without lots of distracting detail.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
