Foreshortening the Human Figure

[2–3 classes, 80 min each]

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will explore figure drawing by building the human form out of basic geometric shapes, then incorporating foreshortening to give their poses depth and dynamism. Rather than trying to draw a finished figure in one pass, students will learn to visualize each body part — torso, limbs, head, hands — as a simple shape first: a cylinder, a sphere, a box. Once a figure is built from these underlying forms, it becomes much easier to twist, tilt, and foreshorten convincingly, giving the drawing a real sense of three-dimensional weight and movement rather than a flat, static outline.

Lesson Objectives

Draw the human figure in a range of poses, developing a working understanding of basic anatomy and proportion.
Visualize each body part as a simple geometric shape, and use that shape to apply perspective and foreshortening convincingly.

Discussion Brainstorm

Before drawing, take a moment to look closely at the human body and how it appears from different angles.

Look at your own arm. Hold it straight out toward your eyes, then straight out to the side. How does its apparent length and shape change?
Find a photo of an athlete, dancer, or superhero mid-action. Which body parts look compressed or "shortened" because they're pointing toward the camera?
If you had to describe the torso, an arm, and a leg each as a simple 3D shape, what would you pick for each one?
Why do you think a flat, front-facing pose feels less dynamic than a twisting or reaching one?

You'll Need

Project sketchbook
Pencil and eraser
Photo references of figures/poses (sports photos, dance photos, or a posable figure model)
Black marker or pen
Color pencils or markers (optional, for clothing/rendering)

Why Basic Shapes? — Thinking Like a Figure Artist

Figure artists, animators, and character designers rarely draw a pose by outlining it directly — they build it from the inside out, blocking in simple 3D forms before refining any detail. This approach is what makes it possible to draw a figure at a difficult angle, like an arm reaching straight toward the viewer or a foot kicking forward, without the shape falling apart. Foreshortening is the payoff of this method: once a limb exists as an actual 3D cylinder in your mind, you can rotate it into any angle and still understand how to draw it correctly.

Builds on: Drawing Cubes and Cylinders in Perspective, Gesture Drawing

What to Do

We'll build the figure from large forms down to small details, saving foreshortening for once the basic structure is in place.

Torso. Begin with the figure's largest mass — the torso — blocking in the upper torso, lower torso, and waist as simple connected shapes.
Limbs and Head. Add the smaller body parts: legs, arms, and head. Position them to express the pose you're going for — a standing figure looks very different from one mid-jump or mid-reach.
Proportions. Everyone's proportions vary slightly, but general relationships hold true (e.g., the body is roughly 7–8 heads tall). Use these as a guide, adjusted by judgment and observation.
Hands and Feet. Block these in with basic shapes first — a box for the palm, cylinders for fingers — before adding detail.
Basic Shapes. Convert every body part into an underlying geometric form: cylinders for limbs, a sphere for the head, boxes for the torso and hands. This is the structure foreshortening will be built on.
Foreshortening. Wherever a body part points toward or away from the viewer, draw its underlying shape in correct perspective — compressed and overlapping rather than stretched to full length. Let the geometric form guide you.
Facial Features. Add eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and hair once the head's basic form and angle are settled.
Clothing. Dress your figure if you'd like — clothing should still follow the form and angle underneath it, including any foreshortening.
Draw More Figures. Repeat the process with new poses. Try turning your figure into a superhero or an original character if you like — the same structural approach applies no matter the subject.

Terminology

Foreshortening — The technique of depicting an object or body so that it appears compressed and projects toward the viewer, creating the illusion of depth.

Pose — A particular way of standing, sitting, or positioning the body, often adopted for a specific visual effect.

Proportion — The relative size and scale of one body part compared to another.

Gesture — The overall flow, energy, and direction of a pose, captured quickly before detail is added.