Drawing Freehand Ellipses and Circles

 Drawing ovals and circles freehand is a fundamental skill for artists. While circles may seem easier to perfect with practice, drawing an accurate ellipse, or oval freehand, can be more challenging due to the subtleties in their shape and perspective. Understanding the geometry and behavior of ellipses in three-dimensional space can greatly improve your ability to draw them accurately.

An ellipse is essentially a flattened circle, with two axes or diameters: a long diameter and a short diameter, which intersect at the center and form right angles. The ellipse often appears when we observe a circle from an angle, such as when looking down on the opening of a pitcher. In this case, the circular opening appears compressed, transforming into an ellipse.

The Behavior of Ellipses in Perspective

When viewing a circle from an angle, the shape compresses due to perspective, with the back half appearing more compressed than the front half. This phenomenon, known as foreshortening, occurs because the plane of the object is tilted away from the viewer. As a result, the ellipse’s farthest points, which are on the left and right, do not align with the vertical center of the shape. Instead, they sit slightly above the vertical center.

This effect is akin to the way objects closer to the viewer appear larger than those farther away. As the viewer steps back from the object, the ellipse’s form becomes more pronounced, and its appearance changes based on the angle from which it is observed.

Practicing Freehand Ellipses

To improve your ability to draw ellipses freehand, a useful exercise is to start by drawing axes. While you may want to avoid using tools, sketching freehand axes can help you understand how ellipses work, particularly in perspective. Once you are comfortable with this technique, you can gradually remove the axes from your drawing process.

When drawing, remember that the space within the ellipse does not compress equally; the back half is more compressed than the front half. By keeping this in mind, you can better capture the ellipse’s form and its relationship to the object it represents.

Using a Box to Define the Ellipse

Another technique to help visualize and draw an ellipse is to use a box around it. This box represents the surface plane of the ellipse in perspective. For example, if you start with a square box around a circle, and then tilt the box to represent a different viewpoint, the circle will compress into an ellipse. The box's front edge will appear longer, while the trailing edge will appear shorter due to perspective.

Adding orthogonal lines, such as those found in one-point perspective, can further aid in understanding how the ellipse and its bounding box interact within a three-dimensional space.

Mastering the freehand drawing of ellipses takes practice and an understanding of how these shapes behave in perspective. By studying their geometry, practicing with axes and bounding boxes, and observing the way ellipses change with viewpoint, you can improve your ability to draw them accurately and confidently. Over time, these exercises will help you develop a more intuitive sense of how to represent ellipses in your art, enhancing your overall skill as a draftsman.