Concept Byte: Perspective Drawing

Use With Lesson 11-1

EXTENSION

You can draw a three-dimensional space figure using a two-dimensional perspective drawing. Suppose two lines are parallel in three dimensions, but extend away from the viewer. You draw them—and create perspective—so that they meet at a vanishing point on a horizon line.

Example 1

Draw a cube in one-point perspective.

• Step 1

  Draw a square. Then draw a horizon line and a vanishing point on the line.

  

• Step 2

  Lightly draw segments from the vertices of the square to the vanishing point.

  

• Step 3

  Draw a square for the back of the cube. Each vertex should lie on a segment you drew in Step 2.

  

• Step 4

  Complete the figure by using dashes for the hidden edges of the cube. Erase unneeded lines.

  

Example 2

Draw a box in two-point perspective.

• Step 1

  Draw a vertical segment. Then draw a horizon line and two vanishing points on the line.

  

• Step 2

  Lightly draw segments from the endpoints of the vertical segment to each vanishing point.

  

• Step 3

  Draw two vertical segments between the segments of Step 2.

  

• Step 4

  Draw segments from the endpoints of the segments you drew in Step 3 to the vanishing points.

  

• Step 5

  Complete the figure by using dashes for the hidden edges of the figure. Erase unneeded lines.

  

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