How to create a 1 point perspective 1980’s inspired landscape

Are you a beginning artist looking to build your skills with digital drawing? This step by step video tutorial of a 1980’s inspired landscape with 1 point perspective is a great activity to develop your skills. This tutorial shows how to use layers, a variety of tools, and more! It’s fairly easy, yet produces a really cool result! So let’s make some digital marks…

* Hey educators! Scroll below to purchase this ready-for-class instructional lesson.*

Step by step instructions

Step 1:

Go to the ‘layers’ tab > add a layer by clicking the ‘+’ sign > rename your layer ‘gradient sky’

Step 2:

On the tools tab, select the drop down to select the ‘gradient’ tool > choose the linear gradient > create a gradient that fades from dark to light.

Step 3:

Add a layer > rename it ‘sun with lines.’

Step 4:

On the tools tab, select the drop down to select the ‘shapes’ layer > choose the solid circle tool > check the box for ‘fixed 1:1’ > draw the circle in the middle of your canvas. Choose a bright contrasting color.

Step 5:

Select the lines tools > Use the eyedropper tool to find the value of the background color to match > Explore the line width to create lines in the sun.

Step 6:

Add a layer > rename it ‘mountains’

Step 7:

On the tools tab, select the drop down to choose the ‘brush tool’ > Choose the ‘chemy’ brush > Click the ‘symmetry’ tool (if you wish) > and draw some mountains. I recommend making these similar to the darkest value in the sky.

*You may want to add some palm trees or some other creative details*

Step 8:

Choose the ‘sketchy’ brush and add some highlights on the mountains that are the same bright color as your light source/sun. Consider what side the light would hitting (left or right).

Step 9:

Add a layer > rename it ‘gradient ground.’

Step 10:

Use the brush tool to draw some large lines that go from the color of your sun to the dark value in the sky.

Step 11:

Click the ‘edit’ tab > choose the ‘triangular blur’ tool to make your lines blend into a hazy glowing gradient.

*Tip- you may want to use the eraser in your brush tool to clean up the horizon line.

Step 12:

Add a layer > rename it ‘1 pt lines’

Step 13:

Go to the ‘edit’ tab > choose the ‘vanishing point’ tool > move the center point to where the horizon line meets the sun.

*TIP- Explore the color of the line, # of lines and the line width to customize the look of the lines.

Step 14:

Choose the ‘brush’ tool > select the eraser setting > remove the lines on the upper half (if you wish).

Step 15:

On the tools tab, select the drop drop to choose the ‘shapes’ tool > Choose the line tool > Draw horizontal lines that gradually get closer together as they reach the vanishing point.

*TIP- the line width can get smaller as it fades off*

Step 16:

Add a layer > rename it ‘stars’

Step 17:

Choose the brush tool > add light colored stars in the sky.

*TIP- Vary the size and opacity of the stars to customize.*