Most people mess it up. They start with a shaky hand, try to loop around twice, and end up with something that looks like a squashed potato or a pair of uneven goggles. It's frustrating. You’re trying to channel this ancient symbol of eternity, math, and flow, but the ink on the paper looks like a mistake.
Drawing a perfect lemniscate—the technical name for that sideways figure-eight—isn't actually about being a "natural" artist. It’s about geometry. Specifically, it’s about understanding the pivot point where the lines cross. If you can master that center junction, the rest of the how to draw infinity sign process becomes basically muscle memory.
The geometry behind the loop
Look at the work of Jakob Bernoulli. In 1694, this Swiss mathematician described the "lemniscate of Bernoulli." It’s a specific curve defined by two focal points. In plain English? It’s a shape that lives and breathes balance. If one side is bigger than the other, the visual "weight" of the drawing falls over. It loses its meaning.
Most beginners make the mistake of drawing two circles and trying to bridge them together. Stop doing that. It creates "shoulders" or weird bumps where the lines meet. Instead, think of the pen as a roller coaster. You need a constant, fluid motion that never truly stops until the loop is closed.
Starting with the "X" method
If your freehand skills feel like a disaster, try the anchor technique. Lightly pencil a small "X" in the middle of your workspace. This "X" serves as your crossing point.
Start your pen at the top right of the "X," swoop down through the center, curve around to create the left loop, come back through the center again, and then finish the right loop. The "X" ensures that your lines cross at the exact same angle every time. It’s a cheat code for symmetry.
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How to draw infinity sign without losing your mind
Let's get real about hand placement. If you grip your pen too tight, your lines will be jittery. You've got to loosen up. Professional calligraphers, like those you’d find at the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH), often talk about "arm movement" rather than "finger movement."
Try this:
- Plant your forearm on the table.
- Hold the pen loosely.
- Move your entire hand as one unit.
- Don't just wiggle your thumb and index finger.
When you use your whole arm, the curves become naturally smoother. The physics of your elbow and shoulder acting as a compass creates a more consistent arc than your knuckles ever could.
The "Double O" vs. The "Single Flow"
There are two main schools of thought here. Some people swear by drawing two overlapping circles and then erasing the inner bits. That's fine for a rough draft, but it lacks soul. The "Single Flow" method—where the pen doesn't leave the paper—is how you get that professional, sleek look found in jewelry design or high-end typography.
You want to visualize a horizontal figure eight. Start at the center. Move up and to the left. Curve down. Cross back through the center. Go up and to the right. Curve down. Meet back at the middle.
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Why the center point is everything
If your lines cross at a 90-degree angle, the infinity sign looks "tall." If they cross at a shallow, 30-degree angle, the sign looks "stretched."
For most applications, aim for roughly a 45-degree crossing. This is the sweet spot. It provides enough room for the loops to breathe without making the sign look like it's being crushed by gravity.
I once watched a sign painter in London work on a shopfront. He didn't use a ruler. He just marked three dots in a horizontal line. The middle dot was his crossing point, and the two outer dots were the "peak" of each loop. By having those three anchors, he could swing the brush with total confidence.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Flat bottoms: This happens when you stop moving "up" too early. Ensure the curve is a continuous arc.
- The "Squinty Eye": When one loop is significantly narrower than the other. Usually, this is because our dominant hand prefers moving in one direction over the other.
- Overlapping ink: If you're using a fountain pen or a heavy marker, the center point can become a messy blob of ink. Practice "kissing" the lines together rather than smashing them over each other.
Advanced variations: Adding some flair
Once you've nailed the basic structure, you can start playing with line weight. This is where the how to draw infinity sign journey gets fun. In copperplate calligraphy, you apply pressure on the downstroke and release it on the upstroke.
Imagine the pen moving down the left side of the left loop—press down. As it swings up toward the center—lighten up. This creates a 3D effect. It makes the symbol look like a ribbon twisting in space rather than just a flat line on a page.
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You can also try the "open" infinity. This is popular in modern minimalist tattoos. Instead of closing the loops perfectly, you leave a tiny gap at the very end or the very beginning. It suggests that the "infinite" nature of the sign is still expanding. Sorta poetic, right?
The psychological trick of the "Ghost Trace"
Before you put ink to paper, do what's called "ghosting." Hover your pen a few millimeters above the surface and trace the motion of the infinity sign five or six times. Get the rhythm in your wrist. Feel the "whoosh."
Then, on the seventh pass, drop the pen onto the paper. You’ll find that your hand follows the path you just "programmed" into it. It’s a technique used by golfers and surgeons alike—pre-visualizing the movement before the execution.
Why we love this shape anyway
It’s been around forever. John Wallis introduced the symbol to mathematics in 1655, but the concept of "unboundedness" is ancient. Whether you call it the lemniscate, the mextlapils, or just a "sideways eight," it resonates because it represents balance. It's a closed system that never ends.
When you draw it correctly, there’s a sense of satisfaction. It’s a tiny bit of order in a chaotic world.
Put it into practice: Your next steps
- Grab a stack of scrap paper. Don't try this on a "nice" notebook first. The pressure will make your hand stiff.
- Draw 20 "Ghost" signs. Don't touch the paper. Just move your arm in that fluid figure-eight motion until it feels boring.
- Find your anchor. If you're struggling with symmetry, draw three dots in a line: one for the center, and one for the outer edge of each loop.
- Experiment with tools. A ballpoint pen requires pressure, which can lead to jagged lines. Try a felt-tip liner or a brush pen to see how the "flow" changes when the ink comes out more easily.
- Audit your angles. Look at your finished signs. Are the loops crossing at the center, or are they drifting? Use a pencil to draw a straight horizontal line through your next attempt to keep the loops on the same plane.