Drawing Basics
Getting Started
Lines
Shapes
How Perspective Works
Intuitive Perspective
Values
Bonus Content
It’s finally time to move on from boxes…well kind of. In this lesson we learn about ellipses, how to draw cylinders in perspective and how boxes can help us draw them more accurately.
Newest
@osa
9d
This one was real tough but, I did my best!
I definitely think I copied my references too much at first and their bizarre angles threw me off. Number 6 is where I got it.
Lane Campbell
2mo
I've always had such trouble with these, could someone tell me if im doing anything wrong with the elipses because they don't look right
Josh Fiddler
4mo
The key thing for me was that the Minor Axis points at the horizontal VP. Which is the same as saying that the Minor Axis is perpendicular to the plane of the ellipse. It will also help you draw tetrahedra, cones, and pyramids.
@bumatehewok
5mo
'The Ellipse is Symmetrical in 2D' My brain is having trouble accepting this. I look at record example measure it and see that it is, but then I am immediately like 'Is it REALLY Symmetrical?'
@danaedg
5mo
I understand the placement of the minor and major axes but I don't understand how they affect how you actually draw the ellipse. I get the ellipse needs to touch the four points, but how do the axes indicate the angle of the curve of each part of the ellipse? Can anyone explain?
Robert
6mo
@stan Question: When you drew the cylinder in a box, is the box isometric? or is it 3 point perspective?
Zach Pipher
7mo
I'm watching it again after practicing. I've watched this a few times. So the major axis always splits the ellipse in half, right down the middle? So I could think of it that way when I am trying to place the major axis in the box.
Zach Pipher
7mo
how do you draw these ellipses in 2 point perspective? I'm having a hard time visualizing how do that the ellipses into a cylinder when the box only has two vanishing points. Or rather if you cant see the top plane or the bottom plane.
Zach Pipher
7mo
Do we just eye ball the major axis? Or is there a way to be able to tell where it is supposed to be like how we discover the minor axis?
@danaedg
5mo
It should be perpendicular to the minor axis. So if we consider the minor axis our horizontal, the major axis will be perfectly vertical in relation to that horizontal. And yes, I think it always splits the ellipse in half in the 3D sense, but since it's a 2D drawing it seems like you have to guess where half would be?
Dermot
8mo
I was thinking again after watching the introduction to the ellipse.
Although an ellipse is used to draw the circle in perspective.
A circle in perspective is really an oval because the circle and circle in perspective use the same centre, meaning the nearer half is larger than the further away half, which would be smaller, and would not pass the fold test.
Any advise would be appreciated to confirm this thought.
Thanks
Margaret Langston
8mo
Here's my 10? 12? attempt at the cylinder in a cube with ellipses, ground out with many messy lines that just get thicker and thicker. I'm still working on my girltruck that spews out clean air, is covered with leaves and flowers, and emits drugs that make everyone in the world peaceful.
Margaret Langston
8mo
Big Q on timestamp 7:18 and lesson note: "The minor axis is at the same angle as the receding lines of the box and crosses the center point." Is this the same as saying: "The minor axis must to to the vanishing point?"
Steven Wolf
7mo
I would say yes. That's how I understand it. The minor axis goes from that center point of the box / ellipse back to, and out from, the same vanishing point of the side of the box that is connecting both of those ellipses together to form a wheel, or a cylinder.
@sniggy
8mo
Guys... I give up.... I am not even able to draw the ellipse correctly inside/within (??) the square. And the second ellipse does not change in perspective... ?!?!
Margaret Langston
8mo
Dear Sniggy: Don't give up. This exercise is doable but I'm finding it requires many attempts and I'm not having much fun. "Intuitive" and "exact" are two different animals.
AJ Wolf
8mo
Have you looked at @Johannes Schiehsl ‘s post below? Just the still in their post alone was enough to break my problem down, but their video is awesome, as well.
Wolfgang H.G. FELFERNIG
8mo
Very interesting and very useful lesson !! Thank you !!
Johannes Schiehsl
8mo
If you are like me and the major axis gives you major headaches: don't worry.
Scott Robertson in his book describes how the minor axis is key to place the ellipse successfully in perspective.
Nevertheless: I made a little animation to make it easier to observe what is happening with the major axis. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R4XWJ1ct1gI
Zach Pipher
7mo
So it kind of seems like the major axis never gets past the mid point between the minor axis and the bottom of the ellipse before it foreshortens into a strait line.
AJ Wolf
8mo
This helped me *so* much! Thank you!!!!
Juice
8mo
Good animation 👍🏼 thanks
Scott
8mo
Once again my brain hurts. I tend to feel irritated when trying to get accurate proportions. But only perspective (so far) hurts my brain. In trying to duplicate the lesson the biggest challenge I found was drawing a "square" in perspective because as far as I know you just have to guess (or feel it or whatever).
@mariabygrove
8mo
There is a way of drawing a square in perspective by using geometric projection but I guess it only makes sense for technical or architectural drawing. For art, eyeballing it probably makes more sense.
But if you're curious, here's a description of how to do it technically:
https://architecturerevived.com/how-to-draw-a-perfect-cube-in-perspective/
•
8mo
These look nice. Perspective is a concept that doesn’t come naturally to most.
This is an extra tricky shape because the sides are so narrow.
I opened it up a little to illustrate which lines should go towards which perspective point. Hope this helps.
Your cylinders look great! Keep it up!
loes roos
8mo
I never before learnt before about this weird way that the long axis does not need to be in the middel and that the short ellipse axis goes parallel to the vanishing point... very cool!!! But it does work... I will need to experiment with that! And that only with a perfect circle both axes are through the center and are equal... very interesting!
J B
8mo
I'm still completely lost with that bit and didn't understand it at all unfortunately :(
Dermot
8mo
Thanks for the Cylinder and Ellipses tutorial.
I realise the explanation is eyeballing ellipses and not precision.
I've watched it several times, but miss the point how you established the Major Axis and it's offset from the centre. When I look at the completed drawing, I'm left uncertain of the Major Axis reference points, which when joined define the Major axis.
@drawingdodo
8mo
That's the key part I'm having difficulties with! Hope Stan covers this a bit more in the critique section!
zan
8mo
yeah, I left unsure of this as well. I see that the major Axis is perpendicular to the minor, but that gives you a whole line to set it along - how do you decide the placement?
Vue Thao
8mo
This video explains both major and minor axes perfectly clear. I read Scott Robertson's book on perspective as well, but his explanation was pretty confusing to understand.
Dermot
8mo
Edit
Since posting I've reviewed Marshalls 1994 lecture and I found it clearer.
He builds his explanation from the ground up, starting with the circle.
I still have to put it all into lots of practice though as I can see ellipses everywhere now and less circles !
Oh no ... and cylinders and Spheres !
Lenserd martell
8mo
My problem was solved. thank you
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About instructor
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
