Drawing a 1 Point Perspective: Cityscape is easy, if you just follow the rules. I didn’t complete this Cityscape, in class, because I want you to follow these step-by-step instructions to give you a foundation to build upon (no pun intended) and create a unique Cityscape on your own.

Step 1- Draw a Horizon Line 2 inches down from the top. Put a Vanishing Point a little off center towards the left.

Step 2- Draw the Street and Sidewalk placing your pencil on the Vanishing Point and pivoting your ruler to the desired angle and draw a line. Repeat steps until completed. *Notice I did not draw my line all the way to the bottom. You will need to draw a Sidewalk in the front or foreground.

Step 3- Draw a Horizontal Line, from the inside line of the Street, left and right, to the end of the paper.

Step 4- Draw the other side of the Sidewalk, from the outside Sidewalk line, horizontal, left and right, to the end of the paper. Next, draw the lines in the Sidewalk placing your pencil on the Vanishing Point, pivoting and drawing each line of the Sidewalk on the right and left side.

Step 5- Draw the lines of the Sidewalk horizontally getting closer together as you go in the distance. *Notice I drew a vertical line on the left. I am using it as a guideline to make correct vertical lines in the Cityscape. Using the vertical line as a guide, move your ruler across to the front corner of the Sidewalk, and draw a vertical line. Draw a horizontal line from the top of the vertical line going left to the end of the paper. Draw a horizontal line about a third down from the top of the building and thin line at the top of the building.

Step 6- Place your pencil on the Vanishing Point and pivot your ruler to the third line down exactly where the lines meet and draw your first line for the extended Roof and draw a line. Complete step on other side of the extended Roof. Draw a straight horizontal line and connect the extended Roof. Make small vertical lines from each side and connect the front with a straight horizontal line and draw the side view using the Vanishing Point and ruler to get the correct angle. Draw a Door on the front of the Building. *Make sure your horizontal and vertical lines are straight.

Step 7- Place your pencil on the Vanishing Point and pivot your ruler to meet the top left edge and make a light line. Repeat the step on the top right edge of the building. *It is wise to make light lines in order to adjust the length with minimal extra lines. Draw a straight vertical line, lightly, to establish the length of the building.

Step 8- Close off the top of the building by drawing a horizontal line. Draw 3 Windows on the front of the building. Make sure you have corrected spacing between the Windows and your horizontal and vertical lines are straight. Draw small diagonal lines in the left, bottom corner of each Window. *Make sure all 3 angles are the same. (In the next example you will see the inside lines of the Window drawn.) Create the insides of the Rooftop by using the Vanishing Point as a guide. On the top left corner of the Roof draw a small straight vertical line. Connect the inside left part of the Rooftop using your ruler pivoting from the Vanishing Point to connect to the bottom of the small vertical line on the left. Pivot and draw the other line inside, the right side, of the building. Draw a straight horizontal line from the inside left vertical line towards the right. Decorate the front of the building.

Step 9- Draw straight vertical lines up from the back of the first Building, past the Horizon Line, and close off with a horizontal line.

Step 10- Draw a light line from the top right side of the Building towards the Vanishing Point using your ruler pivoted from the Vanishing Point.

Step 11- Draw a straight vertical line establishing the length of the Building.

Step 12- Erase the Horizon Line inside the Building. Decorate the front of the Building with 6 Windows evenly spaced, width, and height. To create depth, inside the Windows, refer to Step 8.

Step 13- Decorate the side of the Building. *Keep in mind… You must use the Vanishing Point to draw the top and bottom of Windows and/or Doors. The inside depth of the Windows and Doors will use the Vanishing Point and Ruler to draw the lines. The lines will meet straight horizontal lines on the bottom right side of Windows and/or Doors and a straight vertical line will start from the edge of the horizontal line towards the top of the Windows and/or Doors. Begin the next Building with straight vertical lines, establishing the height of the Building. Draw a straight horizontal line on the top. Repeat Steps 10 & 11.

At this point, in class, the students are to use the 1 Point Perspective Rules to finish their Cityscape.

Completed 1 Point Perspective: Cityscape