Foreshortening?

[Elsiane]

I'm not an art student and never have been. But I would love to know how to improve my foreshortening. Can anyone suggest exercises? Bar drawing poses? Is there a particular way to do that?

I tend to go for detail first, which I'm told is bad. Is that an issue?

Thanks everyone in advance...tell me if I posted in the wrong place..  

[Folken_Schezar]

well 1st off yes details 1st is always bad. the reason for this is if you draw in the details 1st and then the form later your details will always be off. you always want to put off drawing details as long as possible.

i the best advice for foreshortening is if at all possible to draw it from life. to see its is to really understand it.

if that is not really possible having a good understanding of the form and its nature will really help you make educated guesses in how it should look and how to draw it.

i hope that helps in general. if you have specific questions or something particular in mind let me know.  

[Brent Da Supreme Overlord]

if your trying to forshorten the human body, such as hand, arm, leg, etc. Think in circles/ovals. The human body is made of 100% organic shapes. So the easiest way to foreshorten is to draw in circles/ovals. Try drawing a simple leg of a man sitting. Draw the upper leg as a complete circle (kinda ovelish) and draw the leg coming straight down from it. That is the first exercise i did in forshotening. Do that first then the harder 3 1/4 views of for shortening.  

[Brent Da Supreme Overlord]

also, dont just think in circles and ovals but also in cylinders too. Simplify the shape then add detail later.