Draw an Accurate Ellipse
Several ways to draw an ellipse, without any math, exist. This way of drawing an accurate ellipse just needs two nails, a pencil and a string. Quite suitable for any size from a small photo frame to an elliptical garden lawn!
Steps
- An ellipse is what you see if you look at the edge of a tilted circle. Depending on the angle you are looking, the ellipse will be either almost circular, or rather elongated.
- Put a sheet of paper on a board, both board and paper large enough to fit the ellipse you have in mind
- Get a non-elastic string or rubber band, just a bit longer than twice the major axis of the ellipse you intend to draw. If using a rubber band, keep the rubber band stretched to draw the ellipse.
- Gently hammer the two nails (push-pins also will do) next to each other, for starters with a distance, approximately equal to a third of the length of your string. These two nails become the foci of the ellipse.
- Tie both ends of your string together.
- Loop the string loosely around the two fixed nails
- Hook the pencil (a notched pencil will make it easier to draw) in the looped string
- Gently pull the pencil, while keeping it above the board, away from the two nails until the string forms a triangle with corners at the two nails and pencil
- Now start drawing your ellipse, from any point, keeping the string triangular all the way round
- If not satisfied with the results, alter the length of the string and/or the distance between the nails
- As you'll find out, the length of the string will determine the size, and the distance between the nails will determine the shape of your ellipse
Tips
- This is a great way to use ellipses while landscaping your garden, as quite large sizes are no problem whatsoever
- Study the way guys like Rome's Bernini used ellipses to create optical illusions
- Experiment with non-symmetrical ellipses by adding a third nail close (but not in line) to the other two.
Warnings
- Don't let an unattended looped string be a noose for pets (or worse)
Things You'll Need
- Pins or nails
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Pencil
- Closed rubber band or string
