How to Draw a Cityscape

A city skyline etches the sky just around the bend of the highway. Though a skyline is formed from many years of planning, design and construction, you can draw your own cityscape in just a few minutes. Using lines that vary in spacing and shading will extend the kind of designs that can be drawn. After reading this article, you will feel as if you’ve created you’re very own metropolis.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Draw 2 sets of horizontal lines just below the center of the page. Use a ruler to make these as straight as possible. Add a few vertical rectangles that vary in size. Some can even overlap others. Make sure the lines are all parallel, since they represent the front of the buildings.

2. Add a vertical line next to each rectangle. It should be shorter to add depth. Connect the sides with diagonal lines at the top of each shape.

3. Draw evenly spaced horizontal lines on the front of several buildings. You can also add outlines to other buildings in the background.

4. Draw evenly spaced vertical lines on several other buildings. Extend horizontal lines already drawn, to detail the front of some buildings. Add sides to the background buildings.

5. Continue detailing the front and sides of buildings, using intersecting horizontal and vertical lines. Further detail can be enhanced by drawing inverted V shapes or vertical lines for columns. Add half circles for arches, and half circles and squares for windows.

6. Fill in detail between lines on the buildings. Use a different pattern for each one. Vary shading using diagonal lines, vary the density with different parallel and horizontal lines. Make buildings in the distant background darker.

7. Draw wavy or curving lines in the foreground to denote a view from the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep practicing. The more comfortable you are, the more creative you will be.