How to Draw Downhill Perspective for Street Scenes

Drawing streets going downhill is possible one of the most difficult urban sketching demands. The keys to understanding it are in this video. Understand what is the same, and what is different in drawing downhill slopes, and don't ever have to avoid them again.

[@samiyrah4244]

The scenes you've selected would have never got my attention otherwise. In this tutorial you have shown how there are many great opportunities to study perspective around us everyday.

[@stephentraversart]

Yes, it is a little side laneway in a nearby town. The plainest of buildings line it, but that possibly makes the perspective issues a little easier to see and understand. 😀

[@grantwriter7777]

I've searched for this video for ages!! Thank you! The straight perspective grids NEVER cover this, and curved perspective (downhill on hilly terrain) don't help at all. THIS IS IT!!!

[@stephentraversart]

I have an uphill one as well kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4TTdKp8Z8ipfcUsi=KhyyNqqAbyBivZGA

[@stephentraversart]

And this brings it all together: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKaxm4SdhKl6qa8si=pT9ahUgtunhgrsuq

[@CuriousFunguy]

what a great demonstration of slopes. I've always had this nagging lack of understanding of why is it difficult to really see slope in pictures, you've made it obvious. Thank you.

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful!😀

[@libbysmithstudio]

You (by far) are one of the best instructors on perspective! I have learned so much about why what I'm seeing and drawing doesn't match what I've been taught in art college (and other KZbin channels) about perspective. I'm a huge fan now and follow you on IG as well. Please keep sharing your amazing content. ❤

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you Libby. I think as an artist myself that’s helped me learn the questions that artists need answered to understand perspective in real life. Welcome aboard my channel. There are lots of other drawing videos you might find helpful. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@libbysmithstudio]

@@stephentraversart 🤣🤣🤣 I'm totally binging on all your videos right now. I love working in ink. I'm almost totally blind now and can't see pencil marks, so pen is my only option for drawing. I've always loved sketching in pen, so it's great seeing you freely draw such complex compositions without a preliminary pencil sketch beforehand. That's "draw every day" skills that I always emphasize to anyone wanting to improve. 💙💙💙 Gorgeous artwork.

[@michaelbainley5944]

I’m fortunate to ‘get’ perspective -but I know it is a problem for many people and this was a great explanatory lesson - thank you

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Michael. Please tell any friends you have who draw about my perspective video playlist if they have perspective issues. 😀

[@SimHustler]

Phenomenal tutorial for something i have always struggled with. Really good!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Rohith. I’m so encouraged to hear this. Much appreciated. 😀

[@suehumble8568]

Thank you. That is the clearest explanation I have seen and understood of perspective. I love your use of coloured bands to illustrate where it is but also how it changes on the picture. I hope you rested after that.

[@stephentraversart]

What a great comment to read Sue! When I make these sometimes it’s hard to know if I’ve made it clear enough. Appreciate the encouragement. 😀

[@eugenetswong]

Yes, it does look downhill. Thank you so much for this.

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was useful Eugene. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@queenbuzybee4074]

Really good explanation! Thank you so much!

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful!😀

[@veere_archery]

You are really good teacher thankyou so much 🤗💖

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Divu. Kind of you to tell me. ☹️

[@ElTontito]

Thank you for all !!!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Tontito, have you seen my video on drawing uphill perspective as well? 😀

[@Ani.me_006]

Sooo good . Good luck

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks again Anime. 😀

[@Ani.me_006]

@@stephentraversart you're welcome

[@yollexart]

9:20 - This part may have answered a question I posted in another video, where to start your first line. That vertical line can be a tricky thing to look for, seems you usually find the closet vertical corner? Correct me if I am wrong.

[@stephentraversart]

That’s is often a good place. But it really can change according to the particular scene. It’s usually the place I feel I can draw accurately most confidently. 😀

[@suugi7123]

Thank u!

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure Suugi 😀

[@tisavergakis9626]

Would you have a video describing steps (in a hill) slightly curving down and disappear?

[@stephentraversart]

This has so many variables I think as to be impractical 😩

[@tisavergakis9626]

@@stephentraversart MANY MANY thanks for replying! I’ve been trying to paint a picture of a walkway in Mykonos -it curves and disappears from view. I thought adding steps might help… wrong! The main issue is the curve in the walkway (going downhill) is too one dimensional and flat like a wall. Wish I could attach a photo to make clear what I’m saying 😂😂😂 Anyway, thank you again. I love your videos-so clear and immensely informative!

[@dimitriskliros]

@tisavergakis9626 @stephentraversart Perhaps long overdue, but you might find my comment to @colorist_tommy4247 comment useful (?) The key step is deciding the location and path of your vanishing point associated to the direction the steps are heading towards. For downwards steps, in the idealised case where they are all arranged along two parallel straight “guides” in real life, the corresponding parallel downwards facing extended imaginary lines will all meet at a vanishing point **below eye level**. In the more realistic case where you have a landscape as in Mykonos, where the slope might be getting steeper and changing direction, you can separate it into sections, either one of which leads to a corresponding vanishing point, and as the slope gets steeper the corresponding vanishing point moves downwards away from eye level. If the path curves left or right, so will the vanishing point move left or right accordingly. Finally, the point on the canvas at which the steps disappear from view is the point where the said vanishing point touches the last portion of steps , ie it is the point at which the section of slope that you are drawing coincides with its vanishing point. Again, as always, the rules of perspective apply! 😉 Happy painting.

[@salfordnurse]

excellent lesson. Have you done one on shadows in perspective? in 3 different types of perspective?

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I have one on 2 point perspective shadows. It’s in my perspective playlist. 😀

[@colorist_tommy4247]

I tried drawing 2 similar street One going up the other going down. I can't make them look different....

[@stephentraversart]

So e times they do look pretty similar. Are there people going up or down as well, that might make it more obvious. 😀

[@colorist_tommy4247]

@@stephentraversart I was just trying out an imaginery scene both of the similar buildings but one going up and the other going down. To see how I could make them look distinctively different.

[@stephentraversart]

Their heads will be at different heights. 😀

[@dimitriskliros]

This might be irrelevant by now, but i think the distinction between upwards and downwards roads is that (in the idealised case that they are both parallel in real life) the upward pointing road and all parallel lines to that meet at a vanishing point above the eye level, whereas the downwards pointing road and all parallel lines to that meet at a vanishing point that is below eye level. If the slope is not straight then separate it into smaller sections that are straight. The corresponding vanishing points will move up or down accordingly for different sections. Finally, if all these lines point towards points that lie in the same vertical plane, then the corresponding vanishing points will align along a vertical line on the corresponding canvas. Everything follows the rules of perspective! 😉 @colorist_tommy4247 @stephentraversart