Draw a Roof In Perspective

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Draw a Roof with Eaves In Perspective

	Step 1. Using the two vanishing points in 2-Point perspective, draw the general shape of a house box in a transparent manner so that we can see the inside back wall and floor.

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	Step 2. To find the point of the roof, we first find the center of the front and back walls. Draw a line from corner to corner on each wall. Where these lines cross is the exact center of each wall. We then draw a vertical line through those centers and we create the alignment for the height of the roof peak.

Step 2. To find the point of the roof, we first find the center of the front and back walls. Draw a line from corner to corner on each wall. Where these lines cross is the exact center of each wall. We then draw a vertical line through those centers and we create the alignment for the height of the roof peak.

	Step 3. Decide how high you want the peak of your roof to be and place a point on the left vertical line. This will establish the height of the entire roof. Next, draw a guideline from that point to the right VP (Vanishing Point) This gives us the angle of the roof in perspective.

	Step 4. Next, draw lines from the points where the roof peak angle line crosses the left and right verticals to each corner of the front wall. Do the same with the back wall and this creates the correct pitch of the roof in proper perspective.

	Step 5. All things that move away from us become smaller. Consequently, the angle of the roof makes the top a bit farther away and therefore a bit smaller. Draw two guidelines using the alignment of the roof. Place a vanishing point where these two lines cross. This gives us a third vanishing point to use for establishing the back roof angles when we create eaves.

	Step 6. Next, decide how wide you want your eaves to be and draw two guidelines from the third VP, one for the front eave and one for the back eave as shown. You have now established the length of your roof with eaves. Next, draw a line along the roof top to the VP on the right, extending it on the left to where it crosses the downward angle line.

Step 6. Next, decide how wide you want your eaves to be and draw two guidelines from the third VP, one for the front eave and one for the back eave as shown. You have now established the length of your roof with eaves.

Next, draw a line along the roof top to the VP on the right, extending it on the left to where it crosses the downward angle line.

Now that you have completed the roof and overhanging eaves, make your house come alive by adding windows, doors and possibly a chimeny. See Page 31 in my book "Perspective" published by Walter Foster Publishing, Inc. I hope you have enjoyed this little exercise.
	Step 7. Now we must decide how much of an overhang you want on your eaves. To do this, choose a depth that you like and draw a guideline from the front corner of the roof to the vanishing point on the right. Now, you have completed the front side of your roof in perspective. In the next step, we draw the back eave.
	Step 8. The eave of the back roof is moving away from us so it also becomes smaller at the bottom. In order to draw the back roof, we need to create another vanishing point. Do this by dropping a vertical line from the top vanishing point. Extend it below the horizon line a bit. Next, draw a line from the inside peak of the back roof, following the angle of the roof down to where it intersects with the vertical line. Place another vanishing point there. We now have four vanishing points. Finally, draw a line from the peak of your forward eave down to the vanishing point and you will have created the width of the back eave in perspective.
	Step 9. Now we have to find the depth of the overhang of the back eave. This is easily done by drawing a line from the lower, front, left corner of the roof to the vanishing point on the left. where this line crosses the eave width line is the bottom left corner of the back eave.
	Step 10. Now we have to find the angle of the bottom of the back roof so we draw a line from the very bottom corner of the back roof to the vanishing point on the right. this gives us the correct angle in perspective for the back roof. As you can see, by using a few guidelines and vanishing points, you have now created the front and back rooves, with overhanging eaves I hope you have enjoyed this little exercise.
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