How to Draw a Perfect Ellipse

The video shows a great way to draft an ellipse. Using the major and minor axis you can easily plot an ellipse. Make your drawing better by knowing how to draw ellipses.

Kevin McCain is an artist working in both fine art and illustration for over 20 years. Working in drawing and painting Kevin works in an impressionist manner. He has been sharing insights into drawing and painting with students to give them the tools to be successful with their exploration of art.

#Drawing,#Sketching,#Ellipses

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[c.caub]

Finally something I can actually do and understand to paint better still life…I’m celebrating, thanks so much

[leakyshart]

This helped me out in trade school. We are framing some crazy radius walls and barrel ceilings. This helped immensely

[woodfamily]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I am building a large 20-ft long elliptical table and wasn't sure how I was going to get that shape right. This little trick really saved the day!

[rexnemo]

I think that some of these older methods of drawing plane figures are just so clever and it is a shame that as computer spreadsheets and CAD models become more sophisticated that these methods are in danger of being lost . There is something so satisfying about being able to do something without having to resort to complex computing . Bravo !
As a point of information the edge of the paper which is being used to generate the points is at right angles to the tangential line on the perimeter of the ellipse ( I only just realised that so I'm learning more about the subject ).

[rockdog]

This is brilliant! I just happened to be in need of a means of drawing something that had two different minor axis (top more prominently arched than the bottom). This worked PERFECTLY!. THANK YOU!!!

[jacquesmains]

Ah man, I really love tricks and "rules" like these. Thanks alot!

[briankorth]

Fabulous! At work today making some arches but I came across one opening that was 42” wide and 24” tall. All the other ones were 48” or greater wide so I used a string and drew with focal points but it wouldn’t work with this opening . This is the solution!!Thanks for the video!!

[nuretahsinullah]

This video should get more likes. I'm currently doing the maths of ellipse, so it helps me a lot.

[mctihkk]

Thanks for the technique it waa amazing

[attilathehamster]

Simple and incredibly genius. Thank you so much. I was toying with buying eclipse templates, but struggled with how those would work when I drew 3 point perspective. This is about to become my next drawing warm up exercise for a while.

[TheChillennial]

Thanks a lot. Been looking everywhere for a good way to get ellipses perfect, and this is like right up my alley. 👏👏👏

[RudyLouie]

thanks so much, this is better short cut than what i do, u saved me 2 min per eclipse, compounded for my lifetime of drawing, KevinMcCain i cant thank you enough, thanks so much

[shawng]

I missed this day in geaphic arts class. In 1993. For some reason I see a template on tv at 130am today and I just had to know. Short of the using a string method. Thanks for teaching something that bothered me that long lol.

[MultiTomatosauce]

we used to do it with a square and a wooden straight edge "stick' with finish nails in the 'stick'

[julianaplaxico]

This is now my go-to when drawing in graphite. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[DavidSmith-cbyo]

I love learning these little tricks of the trade. You may not have came up with it Kevin but you are willing to share your knowledge with the rest of us and for that sir hats off to you. Thank you so much!

[annedromeda]

Thank you. I was driving myself nuts trying to draw an ellipse, calmer now.

[jamesnurgle]

you just blew my tiny mind XD trying to make a leather bag pattern, now I just need a formula to make sure the outside line of the eclipse is the same as the diameter of my circle. (and they told me I'd never need maths, wish I'd paid attention)

[kelvinnueveanimeguitar]

So simple yet so genius at the same time Incredible

[detroitjack]

Thank you for the great way to draw an ellipse, Kevin! An easy method that really worked for me! With just a little practice, I will be able to draw a perfect ellipse!