Orthographic Projection of a Mouse: Front, Top, and Side Views

Object Drawing Lessons

Orthographic projection shows a three-dimensional form as separate flat views, each looking straight at one face of the object. For a small animal like a mouse, this means drawing the front (face-on), top (looking down), and side (profile) outlines so that corresponding features line up across a shared grid. The goal is not a realistic portrait but a clear, checkable diagram of shape and proportion. This lesson defines a simple convention: height is measured from the baseline to the midline of the body, and widths are measured across the widest point of each view. Because animal forms vary, your drawing may differ from another valid solution; the rubric rewards consistent alignment and plausible proportion rather than a single exact outline.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Setting up the projection axes

Begin with a large sheet and draw a light horizontal baseline near the bottom. Draw a vertical midline through the center of the sheet. These two lines are your projection axes. The front view sits above the baseline, centered on the midline. The top view sits directly below the front view, sharing the same vertical midline. The side view sits to the right of the front view, sharing the same horizontal baseline.

Label each view clearly: Front, Top, Side. Use a soft pencil so guide lines can be erased later. Keep all three views at the same scale; a feature that is 3 cm wide in the front view must be 3 cm wide in the top view. Note that the side view is placed to the right of the front view, so the left edge of the side view is nearest the front view; this determines which way the mouse faces in profile.

1. Draw a horizontal baseline and a vertical midline.
2. Mark three equal rectangular zones: front above the baseline, top below it, side to the right.
3. Label each zone and note the shared scale in the margin.
4. Check that the midline passes through the center of the front and top zones.

Drawing the front view

The front view looks straight at the mouse's face. Draw a rounded head shape centered on the midline, with two small ears at the top corners. The body appears as a narrower oval below the head. Add two small forepaws at the bottom, touching the baseline. The tail is not visible from the front, so omit it or show only a hint at the side edge. The snout points toward the viewer, so it is not drawn as a separate protruding shape in this view.

Use the convention that height runs from the baseline to the midline of the body. Mark the midline height with a light horizontal tick. Measure the widest point of the head and the widest point of the body; these widths will be reused in the top view. All height checks in this lesson use the body midline height, so record that single value and compare it across views.

1. Draw the head oval centered on the midline.
2. Add ears as small rounded shapes at the top corners of the head.
3. Draw the body oval below the head, narrower than the head.
4. Add forepaws touching the baseline.
5. Mark the body midline height and record head and body widths.

Drawing the top view

The top view looks down on the mouse. The head appears as a rounded triangle or oval at the top of the zone, with the snout pointing toward the front view (upward, since the front view is above). The body is a longer oval behind the head. The tail extends from the rear of the body as a thin curved line pointing away from the front view (downward). Ears appear as two small ovals on either side of the head.

Align the top view with the front view: the head width in the top view must match the head width in the front view, and the body width must match as well. Use vertical guide lines from the front view down to the top view to check alignment.

1. Draw the head shape at the top of the top-view zone, snout pointing up.
2. Add ear ovals on either side of the head.
3. Draw the body oval behind the head, matching the front-view body width.
4. Add the tail as a thin curved line from the rear.
5. Check widths against the front view using vertical guides.

Drawing the side view

The side view shows the mouse in profile. Because the side view sits to the right of the front view, the left edge of the side view is nearest the front view. Draw the head at the left, so the mouse faces toward the front view, with the snout pointing left. The body extends to the right, and the tail curves out from the rear. The ear sits on top of the head, and the forepaw and hind paw touch the baseline. The back forms a gentle curve from the head to the rear. Align the side view with the front view: the baseline is shared, so the body midline height must match the front view. Use horizontal guide lines from the front view across to the side view to check heights. The length of the body in the side view must match the body length in the top view; use vertical guides or recorded measurements to check it.

Check the side view against the other two views before erasing guides. The shared baseline means the paws and the body midline height should sit at the same levels as in the front view. The body length in the side view should equal the body length recorded in the top view. If a measurement is off, adjust the outline rather than the guide lines, then re-measure.

1. Draw the head profile at the left, snout pointing left.
2. Add the ear on top of the head.
3. Draw the body extending to the right, with a gentle back curve.
4. Add forepaw and hind paw touching the baseline.
5. Draw the tail curving out from the rear.
6. Check heights against the front view using horizontal guides.

Worked example

A student draws a front view with a head width of 4 cm and a body width of 3 cm. The body midline height is 2 cm above the baseline. In the top view, the student draws a head width of 5 cm and a body width of 3 cm. In the side view, the student draws a body height of 3 cm above the baseline. Identify the errors and state the corrections.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Drawing each view at a different scale. Measure one feature in the front view and reuse that measurement in the top and side views. Record all widths and heights in the margin before drawing.
• Misaligning the top view with the front view. Use vertical guide lines from the front view down to the top view. The head and body widths must match exactly.
• Forgetting that the side view shares the baseline with the front view. Draw horizontal guide lines from the front view across to the side view. Heights must match.
• Adding the tail to the front view. The tail is not visible from the front. Omit it or show only a small hint at the side edge.

Self-check rubric

• All three views are labeled and placed on the shared axes.
• Front and top views share the same vertical midline.
• Front and side views share the same baseline.
• Head width matches between front and top views.
• Body width matches between front and top views.
• Body midline height matches between front and side views.
• Tail appears only in top and side views.
• Measurements are recorded with consistent units (for example, all in centimeters).
• Drawing is clear and guide lines are light or erased.

Questions and answers