This document provides instructions for using simple linear perspective to draw the basic structure of a building. It explains how to identify key elements like the important corner, eye level line, vertical and horizontal lines. Horizontal lines will angle downward the further they are from the viewer. All perspective lines above the eye level begin at the important corner and angle down, while lines below eye level angle up. Practicing observing real buildings is encouraged to learn linear perspective.

1. SIMPLE LINEAR
PERSPECTIVE
with Vinita Pappas

2. This photo of an
old church was
submitted by a
class member.
I’ll use this
photo to
illustrate linear
perspective.
2

3. 1
SIMPLIFY SHAPES
CURVY WALLS,
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS?
IGNORE THEM UNTIL LATER.
3

4. MAKE THE CURVED
ROOFLINE
STRAIGHT.
YOU CAN ADD THE
CURVES IN
LATER.
4

5. 2
IDENTIFY THE WALLS
YOU WILL USUALLY SEE TWO
WALLS.
5

6. - WE CAN SEE THE
FRONT WALL AND
THE SIDE WALL.
- EACH WALL IS A
PLANE AND WILL
HAVE A SET OF
PERSPECTIVE
LINES.
6

7. 3
THE VERY IMPORTANT CORNER
THE VERY IMPORTANT
CORNER IS THE CORNER
CLOSEST TO YOU.
7

8. THE RED LINE
SHOWS THE
CORNER CLOSEST
TO YOU.
8
VERY
IMPORTANT
CORNER

9. 4
VERTICALS ARE VERTICAL
NOTICE THAT ALL VERTICAL
LINES IN THE BUILDING
ARE VERTICAL.
9

10. THE SIDES OF
THE WINDOWS AND
DOORWAYS ARE
PERFECTLY
VERTICAL.
NO PERSPECTIVE
SKILLS
NECESSARY!
10

11. 5
FIND EYE LEVEL
LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD.
11

12. IMAGINE YOU
ARE STANDING
IN THE SCENE
LOOKING
STRAIGHT
AHEAD.
WHERE WOULD
YOUR EYE
LEVEL BE? 12
EYE
LEVEL

13. 6
HORIZONTALS
HORIZONTALS ARE NOT
HORIZONTAL?!
13

14. YOUR BUILDING
WILL APPEAR
FLAT IF YOU
DRAW YOUR
HORIZONTAL
LINES FLAT.
14

15. - ALL HORIZONTAL LINES WILL BE
SLANTED OR ANGLED (UNLESS THEY
LINE UP WITH YOUR EYE LINE).
- WHY? THINGS APPEAR SMALLER AS
THEY MOVE AWAY FROM US ~ LINEAR
PERSPECTIVE.
15

16. 16
LOOK AT A WINDOW
DIRECTLY IN FRONT
OF YOU. THE
HORIZONTAL LINES
ARE HORIZONTAL.
LOOK AT THE WINDOW FROM AN
ANGLE.
THE HORIZONTAL LINES ARE
ANGLED BECAUSE THE HEIGHT OF
THE WINDOW APPEARS TO GET
SMALLER AS IT GETS FURTHER
AWAY FROM YOU. 🤔
TRY THIS AT HOME
This side
looks shorter
because it’s
further away.
These lines
appear angled
because they
connect to the
side that
appears
shorter.
Horizontal
lines

17. 7
FIRST WALL
17

18. ALL PERSPECTIVE
LINES ABOVE THE
EYE LEVEL LINE
WILL BEGIN AT THE
VERY IMPORTANT
CORNER AND ANGLE
DOWN.
18

19. LINES FURTHER
ABOVE THE EYE
LEVEL WILL BE
MORE ANGLED.
LINES CLOSER TO
THE EYE LEVEL
WILL BE LESS
ANGLED.
19
MORE ANGLED
LESS ANGLED

20. ALL PERSPECTIVE
LINES BELOW THE
EYE LEVEL LINE
WILL BEGIN AT THE
VERY IMPORTANT
CORNER AND ANGLE
UP.
20

21. 8
SECOND WALL
21

22. LOOK FOR VISUAL
CLUES SUCH AS
WINDOW TRIMS TO
CHECK THE ANGLES.
22
LESS
ANGLED
MORE
ANGLED

23. 9
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
23

24. Print a copy of
your reference
photo and draw
the perspective
guidelines right
on the image.
24
EYE LEVEL
VERY
IMPORTANT
CORNER

25. These lines will
guide you when
you sketch the
building on your
sketch paper or
watercolor
paper.
25
EYE LEVEL
VERY
IMPORTANT
CORNER

26. When you are
sketching, notice
the angles of
your horizontal
lines and roof
lines.
No need to be
perfect. Close is
good enough! 26

27. 27

28. 10
KEEP PRACTICING!
28

29. - WHEN YOU HAVE A FEW SPARE
MOMENTS, LOOK AT LINES AND
ANGLES IN THE BUILDINGS AROUND
YOU.
- OBSERVATION FROM LIFE IS THE
BEST WAY TO LEARN LINEAR
PERSPECTIVE.
29

30. FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS AND PLEASE
CHECK OUT MY ONLINE CLASSES AT
WWW.VINITAPAPPAS.COM