This is a recorded portrait demo we filmed at Lightbox. I'm a Marvel artist and teacher at the Watts Atelier. In this live demo, I walk you through the key stages of a portrait drawing, focusing on big shapes and proportions. I start with an envelope, or scaffolding shape, to lock in the height-to-width ratio. Then I separate the hair from the face, find the center line, and use rhythms to place the features. I keep everything general at first so it's easier to adjust things later. For anyone learning to draw, the big takeaway is this: build strong fundamentals, work hard, and follow the proven path. Progress takes dedication and sacrifice.

Want to learn more about portrait drawing? Check out our other courses on portraiture.