Foreshortening (simple → complex forms)

Draw forms aimed toward or away from you, with parts shortened, overlapped, and placed correctly in depth.

What it is

Foreshortening occurs when a form points toward or away from you. Its parts appear shorter, overlap more, and stack in depth. A straight arm aimed at you may show the shoulder, a short upper arm, and a large hand.

Start with boxes, cylinders, and spheres. Rotate them so one end comes toward you. Observe compressed edges, rounder ellipses, overlapping planes, and parallel edges that converge as they recede.

Apply the same construction to complex subjects, such as stepping legs, a reclining figure, or a vehicle at a three-quarter angle. Break each subject into simple forms, place them in depth, and rebuild the outer contours.

Why it matters

Foreshortening supports forms that point toward or away from you. Weak control can make limbs look disconnected, necks too long, and objects appear flat or stretched.

You can check it when

• ✓Draw a box or cylinder pointing toward you. Use overlap and convergence to show which end is closer.
• ✓Block a strongly foreshortened limb or object from a photo using simple forms. Compare the construction with the reference for depth and shortening.
• ✓Invent a basic figure lying down or reaching toward you. Check that the limbs are compressed while their volume remains solid.
• ✓Review a foreshortened drawing for consistent size and thickness as each part turns through depth.

Related skills

• Figure in space (perspective, foreshortening, mental rotation)
• Hands in action (gestures, foreshortening, holding objects)
• Maintaining consistent volume while drawing
• Primitive forms in any rotation (boxes, cylinders, spheres and modified spheres, cones, pyramids)
• Ellipses in perspective
• Figures — single and multiple at different depths