Teach Yourself Visually Drawing

Drawing the Human Figure chapter 12

e

f

g

This Tiepolo copy is used to help
explain the mechanics of foreshort-
ening. The vertical and horizontal
lines drawn here, as in the previous
section, are to align parts of the body
in order to foreshorten correctly.
When you are drawing a figure, you
should try to imagine such lines on
the figure, especially when you
encounter a foreshortening problem.
This is the only way you will be able
to solve the problem. A vertical line
through the left nipple shows you
that the side of the frontal plane of
the kneecap lies along this vertical
line (a). This vertical cuts the mass of
the thigh roughly in half. It also goes
straight through the middle of the
head. The line separates the front
plane of the head from the side
plane of the head. A line drawn from
the forehead (b) shows how the
edge of the left thigh is aligned with
the forehead.

The vertical line drawn from the

outer corner of the right eye is lined

up directly with the side of the left

kneecap (e). Notice also that this line

separates the front plane of the lips

from the side plane of the lips. The

line running vertically from the inner

corner of the eye (f) shows where

the chest and rib cage divide the

frontal plane of the body from the

side plane. This vertical alignment

may have acted as a guide for

Tiepolo to show him how long the

chest and rib cage should have been.

The calf muscle of the left leg also

ends on this line. The left side of the

neck (as we look at it) is in line with

the inner thigh (g). This may have

served as a coordinate for the place-

ment of the whole head in relation

to the right leg (as we look at it). If

you pay attention to this kind of

information and look for it when you

are drawing, you should have fewer,

if any, problems with foreshortening.

A horizontal line from the model’s

left knee was drawn (c), so that you

can see that the heel of the right foot

begins on this line. The toes begin

very roughly, halfway up the thigh,

and end at the top of the kneecap

(d). Within this very short distance,

Tiepolo was aware that he must

describe the underside of the foot,

and therefore he had to shorten the

heel. Notice on the right leg how

near the calf is to the lower leg.

Tiepolo has not drawn the ankle

because he could not see it in this

position. Therefore, the foot appears

directly in front of the shin. When

you draw you may find this difficult

to do. Remember that foreshortening

is all about one form overlapping

another form. Tiepolo has convinc-

ingly suggested the correct size of

the foot for the angle from which we

are viewing it. The front part of the

foot is roughly the width of the lit

part of the left knee.

d

c

b

a

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