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How to Draw an Impossible Oval
Draw an impossible oval in 10 easy steps, about 8 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the big oval.
Step 1: The big oval
Draw a big oval lying on its side, wider than it is tall. It almost fills your paper.
Tip Go slowly round the 2 ends so they match.
Step 2: A small oval
Inside, draw a small oval lying the same way. Leave a wide, even gap all the way round.
Step 3: Top middle line
Start low on the small oval's left. Curve round the left end, over the top. Stop on the big oval.
Tip Stay halfway between the ovals over the top, then drift out round the right end.
Step 4: Bottom middle line
Start high on the small oval's right. Curve round the right end, under the bottom. Stop on the big oval.
Tip Turn your paper upside down: it is the same line again.
Step 5: Sparkles on the left
On the left, above the oval, draw 2 small sparkle stars, one higher and one lower.
Step 6: Sparkles on the right
Draw 2 more small sparkle stars on the right to match.
Step 7: Floor and shadow
Draw a flat oval shadow under the bottom of the oval, and a floor line out from each end.
Tip The oval touches the floor in the middle of the shadow.
Step 8: Yellow sparkles
Go over your lines. Colour the 4 sparkles yellow.
Step 9: Yellow band
Colour yellow the band that is outside along the top. Follow it round the left end, inside along the bottom.
Tip The band gets thin and stops where a line cuts across it.
Step 10: Orange band, grey shadow
Colour the other band orange and the shadow grey. Each band goes over AND under the other. Impossible!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: an impossible oval, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
