How to Start Drawing Shopfronts: A Beginner's Guide

Five years ago when I started drawing shopfronts (yes, you read that right, I wasn't born drawing them 😄) I wanted to draw everything at once.

2021 and 2026

I wanted my shopfronts to look dimensional, full of tiny details and packed with character. I wanted my drawings to look like the work of artists who had already spent years sketching buildings.

You can probably imagine my disappointment when they didn't.

The biggest reason? I didn't want to learn the simple, boring stuff that holds everything together. Perspective, shapes, structure...

Or as I called it back then - "all that theory stuff that's stopping me from drawing the fun part."

Looking back, if I had focused on the foundations first, my shopfronts would have looked so much better from the beginning.

So if I were learning to draw them today, here's exactly what I would do.

Start With the Shapes

Whether you're sketching outside or working from a photograph, the first thing you should do is observe. Forget about the flower pots, coffee cups, signs and chairs for a moment.

Look at the big shapes.

Is the building mostly a rectangle or closer to a square? Is the roof flat or looking like a triangle? How wide is the door compared to the windows? Where do the windows sit in relation to each other?

Below you will see examples of the big shape structure.

Your goal isn't to draw the details yet. Your goal is to understand the structure by finding the big shapes. They will become the foundation for everything that comes next.

Use Perspective to Create Depth

When you have the basic structure, it's time to make the shop look three-dimensional instead of flat.

To create that sense of depth, artists use perspective. The most common types are one-point and two-point perspective, but if you're just starting out, one-point perspective is the easiest place to begin.

In simple terms, perspective is how we show a three-dimensional object on a flat piece of paper.

Tip : when you're just starting out, choose a shopfront viewed straight from the front. You'll only need a few perspective lines, which makes the whole process much easier to understand.

See the examples of front view in the examples below.

In one-point perspective all the lines moving away from you lead towards a single vanishing point, while vertical and horizontal lines stay straight.

You don't need to become an architecture expert overnight. A simple shop with roof and pavement in perspective is enough to understand the idea. Take a look at the photo and practice it yourself.

Add the Details

Only after the structure feels right should you start adding details. You can draw exactly what you see: flower pots, signs, tables, chairs, window displays.

Or you can add your own story. Want a sleeping cat outside the door? Add it. Want extra flowers or a bicycle? Add those too :)

It's your drawing. The structure makes it believable, but the details make it yours.

Putting It All Together

Now it's time to combine everything you've learned.

Find the big shapes first. Add your horizon line and vanishing point. Sketch the structure, then finish with the details that give the shop its personality.

That's it. You've gone from a blank page to a shopfront sketch.

Reference photo, big general shape with one point perspective guide lines and the big shape sketch

Big shapes and small details, structured sketch, finalized shopfront sketch

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Starting with the details

Let me tell you - I've done this too many times. I spent hours sketching beautiful chairs, signs and flower pots, only to realize the whole building was crooked. And now my eraser needs to work overtime 😄

Start with the structure (big shapes) first. Future you will be grateful.

Changing your vanishing point halfway through

If you start using one vanishing point, stick with it. Changing it in the middle of the sketch makes the building feel strange and can confuse both you and the viewer.

Want to Learn More?

If you'd like a step-by-step walkthrough with exercises and examples, my guide How To Draw Shopfronts That Look Right takes you from basic shapes all the way to a complete shopfront drawing using simple perspective techniques.

Or, if you'd like to dive even deeper, you can grab my Complete Shopfront Drawing Bundle, where I share everything I've learned from years of drawing shopfronts and urban scenes.

Now grab your sketchbook and draw a shopfront you love.

Start with the big shapes, trust the process and don't worry if it doesn't turn out perfect. Every shopfront teaches you something new. Most importantly, have fun with it.

Happy sketching, Una