The Banana or rectangle.
The
Banana or rectangle body shape is always associated with a sporty or
boyish/masculine appearance with almost no distinct proportions.
The shoulders bust and hips all run in a straight line
and have virtually the same measurements. There are no obvious or distinct
curves to speak of that define her femininity and she also tends to
have a broader back. However Women with a banana shaped figure do tend
to have good shaped slim arms and great slender legs, they also always have
smaller breasts.
Woman with a Banana/rectangle shaped figure also have
flatter less defined buttocks unlike the more curvy Hourglass and Pear
shaped figures.
To decide the proportions of my subject
I used the same principles as set out in
How to draw the female body for absolute beginners. and then added two
vertical lines of equal distance from the centre line to set out the
approximate hip and bust width.
Starting at the shoulders, I began my sketch making sure that
as I worked down towards the waist I didn't exaggerate the lines and curve
them in towards the waist to much. I then
continued on down toward the thighs again making sure that my line didn't
curve to much at the buttocks and that the thighs curved
to give them a natural athletic look. I then continued on down the leg
trying to maintain a slender athletic appearance.
Once I had established my basic body shape I
began to add some details. Starting with the breast which I was careful not
to over exaggerate by keeping them in proportion to the rest of the body.
For a detailed guide on how to draw breasts See,
How to draw the Female breasts. The
placement of the nipple is also very important as this can dramatically influence the appearance of
the breast so be sure to take the time to position them correctly. See
Breast position
The rib cage
will not be prominent as a woman with a Banana shaped figure tends to carry
her body fat evenly so there will be less definition on the upper body. Her
waist will also be less noticeable.
Below are
some more examples of how the Banana/rectangle shaped figure will look in various poses.
The Banana-Rectangle figure from behind
When drawing The Banana shaped figure from behind, it
is important to remember that
there is little definition in the waist shoulders and hips. Also as the subject
is facing away her buttocks and breast will be visible so it is important that
you do not over emphasise them. Although barely visible the placement of the
breast and nipple is important as this helps to show the position of the subject.
The Banana-Rectangle shaped figure
kneeling.
Notice how there is very little curve
into the waist on both sides and that the over all shape of the body is
straighter and less defined and looks more masculine and child like. The buttocks
are flatter and less visible and appear almost flat as they join the thigh. Note also how the stomach
area is flatter and has little definition down to the pubic area.
The pubic area is more visible as
there is little fat on the thighs and the buttocks are less rounded. The
breasts are small and sit slightly higher up the chest. Again it is
important that the breasts are positioned correctly. See
Breast position
The Banana-Rectangle shaped figure reclining.
Notice how the rib cage is
less visible above the waist line. There is very little tuck in the waist
as the body shape is straighter and more masculine. The stomach appears flat and there is
very little curve toward the pubic region and buttocks. It is important again to
note the position of the breast and nipples in relation to the upper body.