One of the ways to lay out your figure drawing is by recognizing and drawing the ovals that compose the figure.

1. APPROACHING FIGURE DRAWING
USING OVAL CONSTRUCTION

2. Look for overlapping
ovals that go back
into space

4. Raphael

5. Paul Cadmus

6. Construct the
figure as a series of
ovals which “hang”
on a skeletal
diagram (or “stick
figure”) and
comprise the
musculature.

7. Raphael

8. Prud’hon

9. Look for oval
shapes in each
segment of the
body

11. Blind contour drawing

12. Stick and ink drawing