Three-Point Perspective

Most of the time, one- or two-point perspective is what you will use when drawing. It’s often the view that you will see when you are observing something from a normal eyesight level. However, when you are viewing a scene from a more extreme position, you’ll want to use three-point perspective.
For example, you will use three-point perspective when you want to give the impression of looking up at a subject from a low position or down at it from a higher position.

A word of caution: your eyes can play tricks on you when you are trying to determine the perspective of an object. Remember to always use some form of measurement when deciding where to place your vanishing points and to determine the size of your subjects. It’s helpful to use a straight edge ruler when working with perspective and to practice drawing it on paper before you commit to other media.

Drawing a Three-Point Perspective

The following is an example of how to draw a three-point perspective.

First, start with a two-point perspective: Mark two vanishing points on a horizon line. Then, draw a line from each vanishing point to a point that will mark the bottom corner of a set of blocks, forming a “V”. Draw two more lines from the vanishing point to the first lines.

Directly below the front corner of the nearest rectangle, put a mark. This will be your third point.

Now, draw a line to the bottom corner of rectangle block, ending it a bit above the third point.

Connect the lines from the top edges of the rectangles to the third point.

Draw a line that begins at both vanishing points and ends at the bottom of the line of the nearest block.

The green line shows the group of blocks with the three-point perspective.