How To Draw Front Facing Stairs

3D Steps Optical Art

This 3D stairs drawing is a really cool optical illusion and is actually very easy to draw. Op art is among our most popular content. And this drawing is one of the most impressive illusions we've featured so far.

What is Anamorphic Art

Anamorphosis is a distorted perspective that requires the viewer to look at the artwork from a specific vantage point. The two main types of anamorphic art are perspective and mirror.

Perspective anamorphosis are the works of art that require the viewer to look at the drawing from a certain angle. Today this is most commonly seen in 3D street art. These are the chalk drawing that are done on sidewalks and roads that often give the illusion that there is a swimming pool in the middle of the street, for example.

Mirror anamorphosis requires a curved mirror to view the artwork without distortion. With this type of art, the image is drawn using angles and appears distorted on the paper. However, when a curved mirror is placed in front of the drawing, the image on the mirror is no longer distorted and the image appears.

Both types of anamorphic art have been around for centuries. These techniques appear as early as in the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux. And have been seen in various ways throughout history.

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Art Supplies

Paper or cardstock
Pencil
Ruler
Black marker

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How to Draw 3D Steps

Start by drawing a rectangle. I'm using a marker so it's easier for you to see, but a pencil would probably be a better choice for this type of op art drawing.

How-To-Draw-3D-Stairs-Rectangle

Next, draw a line across the width of your rectangle. This will be the top (horizontal) part of your stair where you would step.

Draw another line next to the first line that you drew. This line needs to be slightly closer than where you drew the previous line. This gap represents the toe board (vertical) area of your stairs.

Now draw another line that is parallel to those lines. The space between the lines should be the same as the first one. This is your next step (horizontal surface) for your stairs.

Come in from the edge of your rectangle and draw a line that is parallel to the length of your rectangle. This is where that step is going to end.

How-To-Draw-3D-Stairs-First-Step

Next, draw a diagonal line from the edge of the step to the edge of your top step.

All of your other diagonal lines need to be parallel to this one.

3D Stairs Optical Illusion

Draw additional sets of steps by drawing pairs of wider and narrower gaps. Use your ruler or straightedge and line it up with your first diagonal line. Then slide it down to where your next set of steps are.

These are the critical steps in the process to drawing your optical illusion. Your angles need to be the same on each set of steps. And you need to have a pattern of wider and narrower areas.

How-To-Draw-3D-Stairs-Second-Step

Each set will have a straight line for the edge of the top of the step. And a diagonal line for the edge of the toe board.

Use your additional diagonal lines to determine where your next step will end. Which will tell you where your next straight line should be drawn.

Continue working in this pattern until your rectangle is filled.

If you're drawing your 3D stairs with a pencil, trace over all of your lines with a black marker or pen.

Fill in the area outside the steps with a black marker.

Use a pencil to shade in the toe board areas of your 3D stairs. This will be every-other section, starting with the second section.

How-To-Draw-3D-Stairs-Shaded

You have to turn your drawing so you are viewing it at the correct angle to be able to see the optical illusion. When you get your paper turned the right way, it will appear that your steps are going into a hole.

How-To-Draw-3D-Stairs-Finished

We hope you enjoyed this 3d stairs optical illusion art tutorial. Be sure to stop by next week for your next art lesson.

Related 3D and Op Art Lessons

Patriotic Op Art

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Introduction to One Point Perspective

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How to Draw 3D Stairs Optical Illusion

Roshanda is an art education blogger who is on a mission to coach and encourage as many aspiring artists as possible through the use of her blog. Learn more about her on the About Me page and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.