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How to Draw a Perfect Oval Shape

Ovals are often used as borders in other artwork.
ovale image by Unclesam from Fotolia.com

Drawing a perfect oval freehand is nearly impossible; part of the oval is bound to be disproportionate to the rest. There are many different ways to draw an oval: some of them use mathematical tools and skills to draw a series of symmetrical lines that ensure a perfect shape. There is a simpler method, however, that creates a perfectly symmetrical oval in a matter of minutes. If you start by creating a template, you can make any size oval, and the template can be reused any number of times.

Approximate the size of the oval you want and choose a piece of paper that will cover the size completely.

Fold the paper in half. Fold the halved paper in half again. This is called quartering the paper.

The corner of the folded paper that does not have a raw edge is the center point. Keeping your paper folded, measure from the center point along one edge to your desired length of the oval. Mark it.

Measure from the center point along the perpendicular edge to your desired width of the oval. Mark it.

Sketch the curve of one quarter of your oval between the two points.

Cut out your oval, and then unfold the paper.

Tape your oval to the surface on which you wish to draw your final oval. Artist's tape is good because it is repositionable and does not leave any sticky residue. Trace your oval, repositioning the tape as you go along so that you are able to trace around the oval template.

Things You'll Need:

  • Piece of paper bigger than the size of your desired oval
  • Pencil
  • Artist's tape
  • Ruler or measuring tape
  • Scissors
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