This project looks challenging but, in fact, is not. If you understand the rules of One Point Perspective you will be fine. *If you need to brush up on your skills, type 1 Point Perspective in the Search Bar at the top of my page and it will take you to the lesson. We will be applying the rules of One Point Perspective with a twist to create the Anamorphic Aerial Cityscape.
Step 1- In order for the illusion to work, you need paper that is sturdy. I used a 9×12 sheet of 100lb. (Weight) Bristol Board paper. In the example above, disregard the square on the upper left hand corner. I will address that step later. Begin by measuring 1 1/2 inches down, on each side, and draw a line. You should have a rectangle floating in the middle of your paper. *Check each lines measurement to make sure your lines are straight.
Step 2- Draw a square on the upper left corner. *Notice the square is not at a 90 angle, like the rectangle is in the middle. The square needs to be tilted towards the right. Look at the area where the square is inside and outside the rectangle and duplicate it.
Step 3- Draw 7 rectangles/squares total around and inside the large rectangle. *Notice the squares on the left side, tilt towards the right and the squares/rectangles on the right side, tilt towards the left. It is important, for the illusion to work, that the squares/rectangles tilt towards the center. Pay attention to the spacing and shapes the rectangles/squares make inside and outside of the rectangle, as well as the edge of the paper.
Step 4- Put a dot in the middle of the rectangle. This will be your Vanishing Point. Put your pencil on the Vanishing Point and, with a ruler, swivel until you reach the edge of a square. Draw a line from the square towards the center. Stop before you reach the center, as pictured above. Repeat steps on each of your rectangles/squares until every edge, of your buildings, are represented. Notice the two buildings on the bottom right side. I created these buildings by starting with the building on the inside of the rectangle. Draw the building on the bottom right corner stopping the line at the top of the smaller building. *Every line drawn, began by placing a sharpened pencil on the Vanishing Point and, with a ruler, swivel to stop at each corner of the building. Draw a line, from the building towards the Vanishing Point.
Step 5- Close off the lines to form the facade and side of each building. *Notice the facade, of the building, is represented by the blue lines and the side, of the building, is represented by the red lines. Use your ruler when drawing your lines. You will use the exact angle from the original square/rectangle for the base of each building. The facade will match the angle of the front of the square/rectangle. The side will match the angle of the side of each square/rectangle. Always draw the facade of the building first. Then draw the side of the building. The side starts at the point where the side meets the facade, but must be the exact angle from the side of the rectangle/square.
Step 6- It is time to decorate your buildings and landscape. Design the landscape with streets, sidewalks, grass/bushes within the boundries of the rectangle. Draw a thin inner square on the top of the buildings before you decorate the top of the buildings. Tip: Notice how many Textures you can apply to your Artwork. (Hatching, Cross-Hatching, Stippling, Squiggles, Zig Zags, Circles) You can duplicate the designs above or create your own facade and grounds. But, there are rules you must follow when decorating your buildings. Go to Step 7 for instructions.
Step 7- All Vertical Lines on your buildings will be drawn using One Point Perspective. Make small marks at the top of your buildings to work out the correct spacing. Put your pencil (again) on your Vanishing Point and, with a ruler, swivel to the mark you made (on the top of the building) and draw your lines. All Horizontal Lines must be drawn using the Same Angle you used for the top and the bottom of every building. After you are finished designing and decorating your Anamorphic Aerial Cityscape, it is time to ink your buildings and landscape. Before you ink, use a Kneaded Eraser to pick up extra graphite until you are left with an imprint of your Anamorphic Aerial Cityscape. You will be unable to ink until the excess graphite is picked up. Tip: Carefully dab your drawing with a Kneaded Eraser, cleaning it often, until the eraser is clean when you dab it.
Step 8- Ink the buildings and landscape using Staedtler pigment liner Shetch Pens 0.05, 0.1, 0.2-0.8mm or something similar. Pigma MICRON is another brand that works well and is less expensive. *Do not cut out your Aerial Anamorphic Cityscape until you are finished inking and coloring. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE A RULER TO TRACE EVERY LINE. DO NOT DRAW “FREE HANDED” OVER ANY LINE. Once you have finished inking every part of your Anamorphic Aerial Cityscape wait 5 minutes, until the ink has dried, and go over your drawing with a Kneaded Eraser to clean up the rest of the graphite on your Artwork. Make sure you inked every line before you proceed.
Step 9- Tweek and fine tune until you are finished. *I intentionally didn’t color my example so my students could complete those steps on their own, making each piece unique to themselves as artists. I did darken in some areas on the top of the buildings to imply depth. When you are finished decorating and detailing your Artwork, it is time to cut out your buildings and landscape using very sharp scissors. Carefully cut around your buildings that extend past the large rectangle, including the rectangle, you drew in Step 1. Take your time. Remember my saying, “Slower is Faster.” Tip: Place a small piece of doubled-sided tape on the back of your Arkwork and attach it to a Black or Colored card stock paper before you frame or put into your portfolio to prevent your Artwork from slipping and bending your Anamorphic Aerial Cityscape.