It's easy to draw simple forms in two-point perspective. Here's how!

You will need:

• scratch paper
• Mirado®pencil
• Pink Pearl® or White Pearl® eraser
• ruler
• triangle (optional)

During the Renaissance, artists became very interested in making two-dimensional artwork look three-dimensional. They used mathematics and close observation to invent "linear perspective" — a technique that allows artists to trick the eye into seeing great distances or 3-D forms in a 2-D artwork.

Linear perspective allows artists to trick the eye into seeing depth on a flat surface.

Two-point perspective is useful to show an angle rather than face-on.

Most lines are vertical or orthogonals drawn to two different vanishing points.

Many earlier artists were interested in showing depth, but the results were not always accurate.

1. Turn your paper horizontal ("landscape" orientation)

2. Line the end of your ruler up with the side of your page. Be sure the ruler is straight and flush with the edge of the page or everything will be crooked!

You may prefer using a triangle to draw horizontal and vertical lines. Just make sure it is correctly placed!

3. Draw a horizontal line one or two inches down from top of the page. This is your horizon line.

4. Draw two dots on your horizon line near the edges of the paper. These are your vanishing points.

5. Draw a vertical line that is the "front edge" of your form.

6. Connect the two ends of your "front edge" line to each vanishing point. These are called orthogonals.

Draw lightly so you can erase!

Remember: In two-point perspective most lines are either vertical or orthongonals. There are rarely horizontal lines in two-point perspective!

7. Draw two vertical lines between the orthogonals where you want the back edges of your form.

8. Now join the back, top corners to the opposite vanishing point to complete the top of the form.

Draw lightly so you can erase!

9. Erase the extra orthogonals. Now you have a form drawn in two-point perspective!

10. Now add details and experiment!

Now try drawing forms in one-point perspective!