How to Paint a City Street

Painting a city street provides an opportunity to study shape, line and perspective.

Painting a city street requires the use of simple, one-point perspective. This drawing technique incorporates geometry to convey a sense of distance in two-dimensional art. Lost for centuries during the Middle Ages, this approach rose in popularity during the Italian Renaissance. Today, it provides a popular tool for many artists. Using perspective allows your city street to appear naturalistic, and it offers visual interest through the use of dynamic lines. Do not be afraid to try this method. A little help from a straight edge makes it an easy and reliable technique.

Things You'll Need

• Straight edge
• Black paint
• Blue paint
• White paint
• Assorted paint colors
• Paint brush
• Small paint brush
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Starting from the upper-right corner of your paper, draw a long, straight diagonal line across the page. This line should bisect the upper-right corner and bottom-left corner of the page, dividing the page in half diagonally. Repeat this step, starting from the upper-left corner. This forms a large X.

2. Draw a small circle lightly to mark the center point of your large X. This mark is called a "vanishing point," and it represents the farthest point on your horizon. Make note of the four triangles created by your intersecting diagonals.

3. Draw three lines fanning out from the center point in the triangle on the right side of your page. Make two of these lines close together in the upper one-third of the triangle. Draw the third line near the center of the triangle. Make sure these lines fan out from the center point, like the radii of a circle. Repeat this step on the left triangle.

4. Draw two vertical lines using your straight edge in the triangle on the right side of your page. Space these lines evenly apart. Repeat on the left triangle. These lines form the buildings on each side of your street.

5. Use the two lines in the upper portion of your buildings as guides to draw windows. In each building, draw two small, distorted squares using the fanning lines as the top and bottom edges. Use your straight edge to make the sides of each square vertical and straight.

6. Use the lowest fanning line as a guide for the top of doors for your buildings. Draw two vertical lines extending from the lowest fanning line and ending at the bottom of the building in each of your structures. This creates a rectangular shape with a diagonal top and bottom. Use your straight edge to keep your vertical lines even. Draw these doors near the bottom center of each building.

7. Paint the bottom triangle on your page in black paint. Make sure to keep the edges of your X clean and straight. This creates your street.

8. Paint each of your buildings in a different color. Do not paint inside the windows and doors. Keep all lines clean and smooth. Paint each door in the color of your choice.

9. Paint the windows of your buildings black. Outline the edges of your buildings and doors in black paint.

10. Paint the upper triangle on your page in blue to create a sky. Using white paint in loose brushstrokes, add clouds to your sky.

Tips & Warnings

• If your paint colors begin to blend too much, allow them to dry in between each step. Paint your buildings in any color of your choice, from muted earth tones to vibrant primary colors. Use your small brush in combination with another brush of any size or shape.

References

• Watercolor Painting Tips: Negative Shapes and Perspective
• Blueprint: One Point Perspective
• Web Exhibits: Science and Art of Perspective