Drawing ellipses in perspective

FROM CIRCLE TO ELLIPSE

Marsha Devine © 2009

Ovals Ovals have straight sides and are made by connecting two circles.

Think of a model rail road track with straight-aways or an oval above ground swimming pool.

Ellipses have no straight sides. Their perimeters are constantly curved according to a mathematical formula.

Ellipses are circles drawn in perspective.

Ovals & Ellipses

Ellipses

What we know…

Cups, plates, saucers, glasses, and many other forms are circles.

What we see …

As we change our point of view, how we see the circle changes to ellipses of different widths.

Here is a lamp shade viewed from above, on, and below the horizon line.

Ellipse AnglesTips:

•Observe the shapes of the negative spaces surrounding the ellipses. This can help you with the correct curves and angles.

•Avoid the tendency to make a straight line across the bottoms of vases, cups and glasses.

•Keep the curve all the way around the ellipse, avoiding pointed ends.

•Ellipses have no straight edges.

Image copyright http://artintegrity.wordpress.com

Minor & Major axes

An ellipse has two axes we need to know about, the minor axis and the major axis. The minor axis divides the ellipse into two equal halves across its narrow dimension. The major axis divides the ellipse across its long dimension into two equal halves. The minor and major axes cross each other at a 90 degree angle.

90 degree angle

Divide a receding plane

Dividing a flat plane will give you equal sized sections. Use this method to place evenly spaced objects.

Note how the ellipse recedes toward the vanishing point.

Drawing an ellipse…..

Links http://www.design-technology.info/graphics/page12.htm

http://www.sibleyfineart.com/tutorial--draw-ellipses.htm