Foreshortening reference
Foreshortening reference: poses at extreme angles
Foreshortening is what happens when part of the body points toward you: it gets shorter, overlaps itself and changes size. It’s the hardest thing to draw from imagination, and the easiest to study when you can turn a pose in 3D.
Limbs toward the viewer
Arm pointing at you
The forearm almost vanishes behind the hand.
Turn it in 3D →
Punch toward the camera
The fist overlaps the elbow and shoulder.
Turn it in 3D →
Kick toward the camera
Thigh and shin compress to a few overlapping shapes.
Turn it in 3D →
Sword thrust
A one-metre blade shrinks to a few centimetres.
Turn it in 3D →
Lying figures, seen from the feet
Lying on the back
The feet are large, the head is small and far.
Turn it in 3D →
Lying face down
Seen from the head end: shoulders loom over the legs.
Turn it in 3D →
Bird’s-eye and worm’s-eye views
From above
The head overlaps the torso; the legs fold under.
Turn it in 3D →
From below
The raised arm dominates; the head hides behind the chest.
Turn it in 3D →
Jump from below
Feet and legs lead; the figure towers.
Turn it in 3D →
How to draw foreshortening
- Think in overlapping forms. A foreshortened arm is not a short arm, it is a hand in front of a forearm in front of an upper arm. Draw the nearest form first and tuck the others behind it.
- Use cross-sections. Draw ellipses around the limb. The more the limb points at you, the rounder the ellipses get.
- Exaggerate size. Near parts are bigger than you think: a fist punched at the camera can be as large as the head.
- Check with a second view. Turn the 3D pose 90° to see how long the limb really is, then turn it back.
Using the Studio for extreme angles
Every pose on this page opens in the Studio. Orbit the camera, use the Low angle and High angle camera presets, and raise the field of view (60° or more) for strong perspective, where near parts grow and far parts shrink. The hand pose reference has close-ups of hands, the most foreshortened part of most drawings.
Frequently asked questions
What is foreshortening in drawing?
Foreshortening is the visual shortening of an object, or part of the body, that points toward or away from the viewer. A limb pointing straight at you can appear as little more than its end.
How do I practise foreshortening?
Pick one pose and draw it from several angles, starting side-on and turning step by step until the limb points at you. A 3D reference shows every step.
Why do my foreshortened limbs look flat?
Usually because the overlaps are missing or the near part is not big enough. Overlap the forms clearly and enlarge whatever is closest.
Keep practising
Turn any pose to any angle
Orbit the camera, change the field of view and export the view you need.