Last month we discussed how to find the horizon line in a scene. Being aware of the horizon line is the first part of understanding how to draw and paint a scene. Okay but then what!? The next part is to be able to identify if the scene is in One Point Perspective or Two Point Perspective. It is essential to understand that as parallel lines move away from us the lines converge at a vanishing point. Like a straight stretch of highway diminishing miles into the distance at a point on the distant horizon.

The point where the highway converges on the horizon is called a “Vanishing point.” Vanishing points are always on the “Horizon Line.”

This is why you can find a horizon line by following the converging lines in a scene to the “Vanishing point” because Vanishing Points are always on the Horizon Line.
Let’s discuss the difference between “One Point Perspective” or “Two Point Perspective.” We will start with cubes and the viewer’s “Line of Sight.”

We will Use a Cube to Discuss One Point Perspective
 

 

This illustration shows the basic procedure for creating boxes in one-point perspective.

Sometimes we aren’t dealing with boxes at all but planes like this road that converges to a point on the distant horizon.

Cityscapes are Boxes, Boxes, and More Boxes! 
The buildings are just varying sized boxes.

In the scene below follow the depth lines to the horizon line to find the One Point Perspective Vanishing Point. 

This illustration shows the basic procedure for creating boxes in two-point perspective.

Two Point Perspective Scene
These photos show scenes that are two-point perspective scenarios.