Drawing 1, Part 4; Foreshortening

“FORESHORTEN/fɔːˈʃɔːt(ə)n/ or present participle: foreshortening

1.portray or show (an object or view) as closer than it is or as having less depth or distance, as an effect of perspective or the angle of vision.” (Google Chrome search engine)

We were asked to lie on a couch and use a mirror, to draw from the feet up and show the effect of foreshortening.

I was unable to do this, as I don’t have a large, portable mirror. So I improvised and sat in front of the bedroom mirror on my wardrobe.

I made three sketches in my sketchbook, with Pierre Noire Conte pencil.

Foreshortening – my feet

Foreshortening – my hand

Foreshortening – hand in relation to face

I enjoyed creating these drawings very much. It was fun to observe my feet and hands, and see the effect of foreshortening on the image.

We were they asked to find some artists who used foreshortening in their art. I found the following:

Duarte Vitoria

Duarte Vitoria uses foreshortening techniques which I would call extreme. He draws the viewer in towards the body. In these two images, the feet become a portal into the soul of the subject. Very emotive and dynamic.

Duarte Vitoria, Fig 1

Duarte Vitoria, Fig 2

Jenny Saville

An artist who I have never encountered, but who I am very excited about, is Jenny Saville. Her painting below shows foreshortening of the body, by viewing it from the feet up. This gives the woman a real feeling of power, as she gazes down on the viewer.

Jenny Saville, Strategy, 1994, [Oil on canvas]

REFERENCES

Duarte Vitoria, Fig 1 At: https://rogerrowley8.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/duarte-vitoria.jpg (Accessed 07/07/21)

Duarte Vitoria, Fig 2 At: https://rogerrowley8.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/duarte-vitoria-date-unknown.jpg (Accessed 07/07/21)

Jenny Saville, Strategy, 1994, [Oil on canvas] At: https://www.thebroad.org/art/jenny-saville/strategy (Accessed 07/07/21)