One-Point Perspective City Drawing Lesson

Paper (larger is better — 11 by 14 works great)

Ruler

Pencil

Eraser

Fine-tip markers or pens for inking the final drawing (optional)

Draw a horizontal line across the middle of the paper with your ruler. This is the horizon line — where the sky meets the ground.

Place a single dot near the center of the horizon line. This vanishing point is where all depth lines converge — the key to the entire illusion.

Draw a few rectangles scattered around the page, some above the horizon line and some below. These are the front faces of your buildings.

From each corner of every rectangle, draw a light line extending back to the vanishing point. Use a ruler. These are the perspective guide lines.

Between the perspective lines for each building, draw vertical lines to define where the building sides end. Now each rectangle has transformed into a 3D box.

Erase any perspective lines that extend beyond the building edges. Clean up the construction lines.

Add details — rows of windows, doors at street level, a road with lines narrowing toward the vanishing point, streetlights, cars, and people.

Shade one side of each building darker than the front to create a convincing 3D depth effect.

A ruler is essential for this exercise. Freehand perspective lines will not converge properly and the illusion breaks down.

Start with just two or three buildings. Add more once the basic technique clicks.

The vanishing point does not have to be centered. Moving it left or right creates a more dynamic composition — like looking down a side street.

This is a genuine drawing technique used by architects, illustrators, and concept artists every day. Mastering one-point perspective is a foundational art skill.

Once comfortable with one-point perspective, challenge your child with two-point perspective, which uses two vanishing points for more complex building views.