Check Out NMA    About our Partnership    Collapse this Ad
The Summer Promptathon is Coming
2025 • 06 • 24  -  2025 • 06 • 30
The Summer Promptathon is Coming
2025 • 06 • 24  -  2025 • 06 • 30
Click here for more info

Where do you look when ghosting and then drawing an ellipse?

1:18 PM, Sunday April 26th 2020

Hello,

I was wondering where one should look while ghosting and then drawing an ellipse? Currently I feel as if my eyes are just spinning as I ghost my ellipse. Should I be focusing on a central point and estimate the rest of my ellipse? What method do you use when you are ghosting an ellipse?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thanks for reading this post!

Lars,

Report
1 users agree
12:02 AM, Monday April 27th 2020

I find I actually defocus a bit to take on the whole area that I am looking at and try to avoid looking at a particular spot. I then imagine how the ellipse should be on the paper, ghost until comfortable and jsut go for it.

Took me a while to come to that method but it works better for me.

11:21 AM, Monday April 27th 2020

Interesting Scoobyclub!

I will try this! I thought that this would be an estimate until you get it right exercise. I noticed when I ghost an ellipse, I can visualize on paper what it will look like by focusing on the ghosted shadow.

Thanks!

0 users agree
5:33 AM, Monday April 27th 2020

I personally look at the center of the shape I'm drawing, but I'm not exactly perfect!

11:22 AM, Monday April 27th 2020

Thesnowhaku,

That makes sense. I bet that helps visualize ghosting, then drawing the entire circle.

Thanks for the response!

The recommendation below is an advertisement. Most of the links here are part of Amazon's affiliate program (unless otherwise stated), which helps support this website. It's also more than that - it's a hand-picked recommendation of something we've used ourselves, or know to be of impeccable quality. If you're interested, here is a full list.
Staedtler Pigment Liners

Staedtler Pigment Liners

These are what I use when doing these exercises. They usually run somewhere in the middle of the price/quality range, and are often sold in sets of different line weights - remember that for the Drawabox lessons, we only really use the 0.5s, so try and find sets that sell only one size.

Alternatively, if at all possible, going to an art supply store and buying the pens in person is often better because they'll generally sell them individually and allow you to test them out before you buy (to weed out any duds).

Remember that when you agree with something another user has written, you are putting your own reputation behind it.

Consider the following:

  • If it's homework feedback, does it address each section of the lesson/challenge, or only briefly touch upon one or two exercises?
  • Does it provide clearly defined next steps for the student to follow?
  • Have you read through it thoroughly, or are you simply agreeing so the student earns a superficial badge?
  • Replies you agree with will be visible in your sketchbook

Agreeing blindly just to be nice is a good way to get your permissions associated with this function revoked, so make sure that you genuinely feel that the response is beneficial to the student.

This website uses cookies. You can read more about what we do with them, read our privacy policy.