Drawing a box with a cylinder hole can seem complicated, but using the right strategy and perspective rules, you can master this form in a clear and structured way. This tutorial breaks down the process into simple steps, guiding you from 2D layout to a 3D perspective sketch, perfect for product design or industrial sketching.
Step 1: Start with the Top View (2D)
Begin by drawing a square for the top surface of your box. Draw the diagonals to find the center. Next, within the square, draw a smaller square which will represent where the hole will be. Inside that smaller square, place a circle centered, representing the hole’s opening.
Step 2: Translate to 3D with 2-Point Perspective
Set up your 2-point perspective by placing two vanishing points on the horizon line. Draw your box by connecting the edges to the vanishing points, forming a three-dimensional cube. Use the diagonals and center points from Step 1 to project the hole onto the 3D box.
Step 3: Draw the Hole as a Cylinder Inside the Box
Project the circle from the top surface down into the box by creating ellipses on the front and back faces. Connect these ellipses to form a cylinder, representing the hole passing through your box.
Step 4: Add Contour Lines for Depth and Volume
Use contour lines around the edges of the hole to indicate material thickness and volume. Add hatching inside the hole to create contrast and show the depth visually.
Step 5: Practice with Different Angles
Try drawing the box with the hole from various perspectives, including tilted angles, by adjusting your horizon line accordingly. The key is to always align your verticals perpendicular to the horizon and adjust the box edges to your vanishing points.
With practice, drawing complex shapes like a box with an internal hole becomes a simple game of following geometry rules and perspective principles. Remember, sketching fast and freehand is part of the creative process — perfection comes with repetition!
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Thanks for your tutorial. I love this post so much. I am looking for some tips such as this.
My pleasure Mike !
I am glad the sketching video tutorial helps you.
By the way, make sure to register to the blog to get the Designer Starter Kit. 🙂
See you !
Hello my brother.. I am shabi khan from India.. I want to learn how to sketch properly.. Sketching is our language to share what is inside our creative brain..
Me and my all friends wants you to visit India.. Here are your many followers like me..
Please visit once..
Thankyou
Shabi khan
Hello Shabi,
Yeah I wish coming India to visit. It seams to be an amazing country.
Which city do you live ? Would be cool to meet up !
Hello my dear brother…
I am happy to see your reply..
I live in Delhi n waiting to welcome you in India..
I’m sure you will love the food here, specially mughlai food of Delhi-6..
Hi Chou-Tac,
Do you have any techniques for accurately drawing cubes in perspective? What I mean is, to get that precise 1:1 side ratio. From memory, all I’ve seen you do in the past is estimate this (and you do an excellent job), but I find even being out a fraction can effect my construction work. Maybe that’s an idea for a future video. Hope this makes sense. Keep up the good work!
Luke
Hey Hello Luke,
I do understand what you mean, but it’s a technique I do not recommend personally as it’s not worth the time and effort. Once again to me. For sure might have people disagree with me. But I actually never heard about any designer using this method though. I saw some tutorial about it on Youtube, please go ahead. Study it carefully. It’s always great to get the information that interest you. I wish I could help you on this, but the way I do is observation, estimation and of course practice. 🙂
If your proportion is closed enough, it should not affect your construction work. Instead what you should take care the most is if the converging lines have been well respected.
Hope it helps !
Chou-Tac
Thanks for your response.
My drawing teacher at design school is more ‘old school’, leaning towards accurate drawings, rather than looser sketches. His cube techniques are quite time consuming.
I prefer your style and approach to be honest – so I’ll keep practicing along these lines. 🙂
Hello my dear brother…
I am happy to see your reply..
I live in Delhi n waiting to welcome you in India..
I’m sure you will love the food here, specially mughlai food of Delhi-6..
Hi Chou-Tac Chung
. Here is The VERY SAME Brazilian Architect…
. I’ve read somewhere – I don’t remember where You’ve got a new ” TOY ” from Wacon, and I’d like to follow your experience with it: What’s it’s MODEL & SIZE ? And so on… ( all I’ve asked you before… )
. Can you tell us ALL ABOUT THAT? It’s gonna be VERY VERY HELPFUL to choose one to by…
. Cheers, no Tears
. Percio Camargo DE Carvalho
zen2you@outlook.com
Hey hello Percio,
Is it the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro you think about ?
http://www.wacom.com/en-us/products/pen-computers/wacom-mobilestudio-pro