How to draw square and rectangular boxes in perspective

Summary

This video tutorial teaches viewers how to draw square and rectangular boxes in perspective, making them appear three-dimensional. It explains the concept of perspective, vanishing points, and how edges taper to create depth. The tutorial covers one-, two-, and three-point perspective, horizontal rotations of box sides, and vertical tilts, including bird's eye and worm's eye views. Detailed instructions show how to calculate angles, split vanishing points, and ensure accurate alignment. The video emphasizes correct placement of the horizon line for proper viewpoint and provides practical examples for drawing boxes at any rotation or tilt, making complex perspective drawing approachable for artists.

Takeaways

• 😀 Perspective drawing creates the illusion of 3D objects on a 2D surface by making distant parts appear smaller.
• 😀 Boxes have 12 edges, with edges in the same direction sharing a vanishing point, while vertical edges often do not require one.
• 😀 One-point perspective is used when boxes have edges at 0° or 90° on the paper.
• 😀 Two-point perspective is used when boxes have both 0° and 90° edges, and three-point perspective is used when no edges are 0° or 90°.
• 😀 Horizontal rotation of a box affects the distortion of its sides, with 0° showing perfect squares/rectangles and 90° appearing almost as a line.
• 😀 Station points determine vanishing points by drawing rays at specific angles from the viewer’s eye.
• 😀 Vertical tilt of a box can be achieved by splitting vanishing points upward or downward, which allows for bird's-eye or worm's-eye views.
• 😀 The horizon line represents the viewer’s eye level and affects how bird's-eye or worm's-eye perspectives appear.
• 😀 Proper perspective requires vanishing points to be based on a horizon line centered on the page; off-center lines may distort perception.
• 😀 Edges converging at 90° in perspective must be verified using the station point, not just with standard paper measurements.
• 😀 Cropping a drawing can slightly affect perspective, but minor adjustments can still maintain a visually accurate 3D illusion.
• 😀 Multiple approaches exist for splitting vanishing points and constructing boxes in perspective, depending on rotation and tilt.

Q & A

What is perspective in drawing and why is it important for creating 3D boxes?

Perspective is the art of representing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface to convey their height, width, depth, and position relative to the viewer. It is important for creating 3D boxes because it ensures that farther sides appear smaller and edges taper correctly, creating the illusion of depth.

How many edges and vanishing points does a typical rectangular or square box have?

A rectangular or square box has 12 edges divided into three sets of four edges. Each set of edges going in the same direction shares a vanishing point, so a box usually requires three vanishing points unless some edges are vertical or horizontal.

What is the difference between 1-point, 2-point, and 3-point perspective?

1-point perspective is used when a box has edges at 0° or 90° relative to the viewer. 2-point perspective is used when a box has one set of edges either horizontal or vertical. 3-point perspective applies when a box has no edges at 0° or 90° angles, requiring three vanishing points for depth.

How do you rotate a box horizontally in perspective?

To rotate a box horizontally, keep the vertical edges vertical and taper the other two edges toward a chosen horizontal vanishing point. The horizontal rotation angle determines how distorted the side appears, from a perfect rectangle at 0° to a squished line at 90°.

What is a station point and how does it relate to vanishing points?

A station point represents the viewer's eye position. Rays drawn from the station point toward the horizon determine vanishing points. The angles of these rays control how a box's edges taper and how it rotates in perspective.

How do you tilt a box vertically to create bird’s eye or worm’s eye views?

To tilt a box, split one of the horizontal vanishing points into two directions—above and below the horizon line. Draw rays from the station point at half the angle between the original vanishing point and 0°, then intersect the horizon to guide vertical tilting. Bird’s eye view looks down; worm’s eye view looks up.

What is the purpose of a picture horizon line in bird’s eye or worm’s eye views?

The picture horizon line indicates the viewer's point of view relative to the box. Placing it on a top vertical vanishing point creates bird’s eye view, and on a bottom vertical vanishing point creates worm’s eye view. It does not change vanishing points but helps show the box’s orientation relative to the viewer.

Why is it important to center the horizon line on your page when drawing boxes?

Centering the horizon line ensures that the perspective looks natural and that the viewer's eye aligns correctly with the box. If the horizon line is off-center, the box may appear cropped or tilted incorrectly, leading to a less accurate perspective.

How does splitting a vanishing point affect the tilt of a box?

Splitting a vanishing point creates additional rays above and below the horizon line, which guides the vertical tilt of the box. The distance and angle of these split points determine how much the box tilts upward or downward, simulating a 3D rotation.

Can you explain how horizontal rotation angles affect the distortion of a box’s side?

The horizontal rotation angle determines how a box's side appears in perspective. At 0° or 180°, the side looks like a perfect rectangle. At intermediate angles like 22.5°, 45°, 67.5°, or 112.5°, the side becomes increasingly distorted, tapering toward vanishing points and appearing less like a perfect square or rectangle.

What happens to a box’s edges when viewed directly above or below a vanishing point?

When a box's side is aligned directly above or below a vanishing point (90° rotation), its edges compress or squish together, sometimes appearing as a straight line. This occurs because the depth is fully foreshortened from the viewer’s perspective.