The Banana/Rectangle shaped figure.
Drawing the banana/rectangle figure.
Our bodies vary so much that I am only going to give a few basic examples of how to portray them in a drawing. I will only be dealing with what I consider to be the four main female body shapes. The Hourglass, The Pear, The Apple;The Banana which of course can be worked with and manipulated to produce your own finished portrayal of a female nude.
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 positionThe 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 hour glass figure will look in various poses.
The Banana/rectangle shaped 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.
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