How to Draw a Cityscape

Reviewed by Jeanine Hattas Wilson

Last Updated: November 15, 2023

Drawing a whole cityscape sounds difficult, right? It's actually very simple--follow these four steps to make a realistic cityscape of your own.

Steps

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Draw a line forming the outline of the buildings. Only use straight lines going up and down, making buildings of many different sizes. Really try to have variety amongst your buildings, or else your cityscape will be pretty uninteresting.
This will add depth and perspective to your cityscape; just make sure you keep everything in proportion and if you mess up, erase very carefully so as to not smudge any part of the other sketched row.

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If you add more rows of buildings, remember that the farther they are into the distance, the brighter the shade of grey they need to be.
Use rectangles and squares to mimic the windows. Put many together in groups for larger buildings to make them look like apartments, and for warehouses and similar structures don't add any light at all.

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Question

How can I draw a realistic cityscape?

Community Answer

Adding details will make your cityscape more realistic. Focus on adding textures and working with light and shadows to really make it come alive.

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How can I emphasize a single building?

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Try to make the outside lines on the building thicker, or the colors brighter.

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Do I have to use shading to make it realistic?

RainbowSprinklesAJ

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No. You can add value if you like. You can make it look whatever way you want. It's your art, so it's your choice.

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Tips

Draw lightly in pencil so that you can easily rub out mistakes.

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Make sure to add a sun or clouds for a more realistic setting.

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Draw in different shades for the buildings.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Use a variety of different types of buildings to make your skyline unique. It's also more accurate in most cases to use a variety of distinct architectural styles. Most cities do not build their skylines overnight, so there are always a few different styles represented in a skyline.
Don't forget about the environment! Throw some clouds or a sunset in the background for a more dynamic, realistic drawing.

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