Examples of Foreshortening in Figure Drawing: 3 Core Examples Every Artist Should Know

Before we get into theory, let’s do what artists actually do: look at examples of foreshortening in figure drawing that show up in real poses. Instead of memorizing rules, you’ll understand how things look when a body turns toward you in space.

The three core examples we’ll keep coming back to are:

• A figure lying on the ground with the feet toward you
• An arm and hand reaching straight toward the viewer
• A seated figure with knees bent and coming forward

These are the best examples to train your eye because they exaggerate depth, but they’re simple enough to sketch in a sketchbook at home.

Example 1: Figure Lying Down With Feet Toward You

Imagine someone lying on their back on the floor, head far away, feet closest to you. This is probably the most classic example of foreshortening in figure drawing you’ll see in art classes.

Here’s how to think through it step by step.

Step 1: See the Body as Stacked Shapes

Forget the details for a moment. Picture the body as a series of overlapping boxes or cylinders stacked in space:

• The feet are the closest box.
• The lower legs are a second box behind the feet.
• The thighs are another box behind the lower legs.
• The torso is a longer box behind the thighs.
• The head is the final box, farthest away.

On the page, those boxes get shorter in height (top to bottom) as they turn toward you, but they still keep their width (side to side). That’s the heart of foreshortening: length compresses, width often doesn’t.

Step 2: Draw the Closest Part Bigger

In this pose, the feet are surprisingly large compared to the head. Many beginners shrink the feet because they “know” the feet are smaller than the head in real life. But in this view, the feet might be almost as tall as the compressed torso.

When you study examples of foreshortening in figure drawing: 3 examples like this one, notice how:

• Toes overlap each other and overlap the ankle.
• The ankle overlaps the lower leg.
• The lower leg overlaps the knee and thigh.

That stack of overlapping shapes is what sells the illusion of depth.

Step 3: Use Clear Overlaps, Not Guesswork

Instead of trying to “measure” every millimeter, focus on what sits in front of what. If the feet are closest, their contour line should clearly cut in front of the lower leg. The lower leg should cut in front of the thigh, and so on.

This is why figure drawing teachers often emphasize gesture and overlap rather than perfect measurements. Many university programs, like those taught through art departments at places such as UCLA or RISD, encourage students to block in big shapes first, then refine.

Quick Practice Idea

Lie on the floor and take a photo of your own legs and feet from this angle. Then do three tiny sketches:

• One focusing only on simple boxes.
• One adding cylinders for legs.
• One adding real anatomy and toes.

You’ve just created your own custom reference, one of the best examples of foreshortening you’ll ever study—because you can feel the pose in your own body.

Example 2: Arm and Hand Reaching Straight Toward You

The next example of foreshortening in figure drawing you’ll run into constantly is the arm reaching toward the viewer—think superheroes punching toward the camera, or someone reaching out for help.

Step 1: Start With a Cylinder and a Box

Break it down very simply:

• The upper arm is a cylinder.
• The forearm is another cylinder.
• The hand is a box.

In a strong foreshortened pose, that hand-box is closest to you. On the page, it should be the biggest shape, even though you know a hand is smaller than an arm in real life.

Step 2: Compress the Length, Keep the Width

When the arm points straight at you, its length visually shrinks. The upper arm might become a short, rounded shape behind the wrist and hand. But the width of the arm—side to side—doesn’t shrink as much.

In many real examples of foreshortening, artists exaggerate this effect: they make the hand slightly larger and the upper arm slightly shorter than a camera would see. This pushes the drama of the pose and reads better from a distance.

Step 3: Use the Planes of the Hand

The hand is full of planes: top plane, side planes, finger planes. When you draw a foreshortened hand reaching toward you, think in big planes first:

• The top of the hand facing you is a big, clear plane.
• The fingers become stacked shapes, overlapping like steps.
• The thumb often overlaps the palm or fingers, depending on angle.

If you study comics, concept art, or animation stills from 2024–2025, you’ll notice this pose everywhere. Modern figure drawing resources and online workshops (many hosted by art schools and organizations like The Smithsonian’s learning resources) often spotlight this as one of the best examples of foreshortening to master for dynamic storytelling.

Quick Practice Idea

Hold your hand out toward your face and close one eye. Sketch just the silhouette of what you see—no details. Then add only the overlaps: which finger sits in front, which sits behind? That simple exercise trains you to see foreshortening without getting lost in knuckles and fingernails.

Example 3: Seated Figure With Knees Bent Toward the Viewer

The third of our examples of foreshortening in figure drawing: 3 examples is a seated pose. Picture someone sitting on the floor, knees bent, feet planted closer to you, torso leaning back slightly.

This pose is a goldmine for learning because you get multiple overlapping parts:

• Feet and ankles closest
• Shins and knees slightly behind
• Thighs behind the knees
• Torso behind the thighs
• Head behind the torso

Step 1: Think of the Legs as Shortened Ladders

In a normal standing pose, the leg is like a long ladder: hip, knee, ankle, foot in a clear vertical order. In this seated foreshortened pose, the ladder is tipped toward you.

On the page, that ladder becomes a stack of rectangles:

• A rectangle for the foot.
• A shorter rectangle for the lower leg.
• A slightly larger but still compressed rectangle for the thigh.

The foot may almost hide the ankle. The knee might partially hide the thigh. This kind of overlap is one of the best examples of how foreshortening simplifies complex anatomy into readable layers.

Step 2: Watch the Ellipses

Anywhere you have a cylindrical form—like the thigh or calf—you’ll see an ellipse at the top or bottom edge. In foreshortening, those ellipses become more open or more closed depending on the angle.

For a seated figure with the knees bent toward you:

• The knee area may show a very open ellipse where the leg turns away.
• The thigh near the hip might show a narrower ellipse, almost a straight line.

Practicing these ellipses is a quiet way to get better at foreshortening without feeling overwhelmed. Many life drawing classes, including community programs listed through sites like National Endowment for the Arts, still use these classic seated poses because they’re reliable training grounds.

Step 3: Connect the Torso and Head

Don’t forget that the torso and head are also foreshortened in this pose. If the figure leans back, the ribcage becomes a compressed oval, and the head may appear slightly smaller and higher up the page.

A common mistake: drawing a beautifully foreshortened lower body, then sticking a full-length, non-foreshortened torso on top. Keep the compression consistent from feet to head.

More Real Examples of Foreshortening You’ll See Everywhere

Beyond the three core poses, there are other real examples of foreshortening in figure drawing that show up constantly in modern art, photography, and even social media:

A Dancer Leaping Toward the Camera

One leg stretches forward, the other trails behind. The forward leg looks much larger than the trailing leg. The torso twists, and one shoulder may appear much closer. Sports photography and dance photography are overflowing with these poses.

A Person Taking a Selfie From Above

The classic “phone above the head” selfie is a subtle example of foreshortening: the head and shoulders closest to the camera appear larger, while the hips and legs shrink away. Study a few selfies and you’ll see the same principles you use in figure drawing.

Someone Tying Their Shoes

In this everyday pose, the torso folds over the legs, and the arms reach down. The upper back and shoulders overlap the ribcage; the forearms overlap the thighs. This is a great real-life example you can sketch in a café or at home.

A Figure Curled on Their Side (Fetal Pose)

Here, the knees may come almost up to the chest, and the arms wrap around the legs. You get layered overlaps: knees over torso, arms over knees, head tucked behind arms. That stack of forms is pure foreshortening practice.

If you browse online figure drawing libraries, many of which are referenced in art education articles from institutions like Harvard’s art museums, you’ll see these kinds of poses used again and again as teaching tools.

How to Actually Practice These Examples of Foreshortening

Studying examples of foreshortening in figure drawing is helpful, but the real progress comes when you draw them repeatedly in different ways.

Here’s a straightforward practice approach you can use in 2024–2025, taking advantage of modern tools and resources:

Use Timed Online Life-Drawing Sessions

Many artists now use live or recorded figure-drawing sessions online. You can pause poses that show strong foreshortening and do quick studies:

• First pass: draw only the big shapes (boxes and cylinders).
• Second pass: add overlaps and ellipses.
• Third pass: refine anatomy and gesture.

Short, repeated studies are far more effective than one “perfect” drawing.

Take Your Own Reference Photos

With a smartphone, you can easily create your own best examples of foreshortening:

• Lie on the floor with feet toward the camera.
• Reach an arm straight toward the lens.
• Sit with knees bent toward the camera.

Use the camera’s grid to help you see how much the length of limbs compresses compared to their width.

Study Classical and Contemporary Art

Look at how classical painters and contemporary illustrators handle these poses. Notice how they often exaggerate the size of the closest forms and simplify background anatomy.

Many museum websites, including those linked through USA.gov’s culture and arts section, offer high-resolution images of artworks you can zoom into and study.

Common Mistakes When Drawing Foreshortened Figures

When you work through these real examples of foreshortening, you’ll probably run into a few predictable problems:

• Shrinking the closest part because “it shouldn’t be that big.”
• Forgetting overlaps, so everything looks flat and stacked vertically.
• Drawing each limb as if it were fully visible, instead of partially hidden.
• Ignoring the torso and only foreshortening the arms or legs.

The fix is almost always the same: simplify into big shapes, decide clearly which shape sits in front, and let that shape overlap the others with confidence.

If you ever feel stuck, remember that learning to see depth is a skill, not a talent. Just like learning to read or write, it gets easier with repetition.

FAQ: Examples of Foreshortening in Figure Drawing

What are some easy examples of foreshortening to start with?

Some of the easiest examples of foreshortening in figure drawing are:

• A hand reaching toward you while you sit at a desk.
• Your own legs stretched out on a couch, feet closest to you.
• A friend seated with knees bent toward you.

These poses keep the body supported and stable, so you can focus on drawing instead of worrying about complex movement.

Can I practice foreshortening without a live model?

Yes. You can use reference photos, online pose libraries, or your own smartphone photos. Many art students and hobbyists in 2024–2025 rely on a mix of live sessions and photo references. Just remember to simplify what you see into boxes, cylinders, and clear overlaps.

What is one quick example of foreshortening I can draw right now?

Hold your forearm straight toward your face with a closed fist. Close one eye and sketch the silhouette you see. That single pose is a strong example of foreshortening in figure drawing because the fist appears large while the forearm and upper arm compress behind it.

How do I know if I’m exaggerating foreshortening too much?

If the drawing still reads clearly—viewers understand which part is closest—you’re probably fine. Many artists intentionally push the size of the closest forms for drama. If things start to look like a visual gag instead of a believable figure, dial the exaggeration back slightly.

Are there best examples of foreshortening I should study from famous art?

Yes. Look for reclining figures, dramatic gestures, and seated poses in classical paintings and modern illustration. Any artwork where a hand, foot, or face is coming toward the viewer will give you strong examples of foreshortening to learn from.

If you keep returning to these examples of foreshortening in figure drawing: 3 examples—the lying figure, the reaching arm, and the seated bent-knee pose—you’ll find that every other complex pose starts to feel like a variation on these same ideas. Overlaps, compressed lengths, and confident big shapes will slowly become second nature, and the scary word “foreshortening” will just feel like another tool in your drawing toolbox.