The first project of the Drawing Basics course is to challenge yourself to simplify the shapes, edges, and values of a pear or portrait from observation. I provide you two photo options over in the downloads tab. Being able to simplify is a very useful skill to be able to communicate clearly in your drawings.

Let's draw some portraits from start to finish! In this project, you'll take the steps we've learned so far and draw some portraits from scratch.

Let me show you how I approach value composition studies. I start with a basic sketch that resembles the photo to warm up. Then I experiment by adjusting values, like changing the darkness of the shirt or lightening the hair, to see how it affects the composition. I also play with the background and cropping, trying different shapes and contrasts to frame the subject. It's all about testing different ideas, simplifying shapes, and seeing what works best for the piece.

It’s time to inherit some power from the masters! In this project, we’re continuing to improve your line quality by choosing a master drawing that excites you and studying the artist's use of lines.

Here’s a project to help you avoid chicken scratch. We’re going to simplify our drawings to C curves, S curves, and straight lines.

I enjoyed the habit of drawing everyday during the 12 Days of Proko. The timer tool is great and there are lots of professional photos to work from. I took one day off from it and got right back on it. Now the habit is a fixture in my daily routine. I've been posting the images in the two week challenge thread in the Drawing Fundamentals Course, but since a.) this will be a longer habit than two weeks and b.) not everyone on Proko is enrolled in that course, I'm starting a thread here. Anyone inclined, feel free to join in. Use the timer and whatever photos you have packs for, or are freely available. Here are a few two minute sketches from me--mostly from the Viking Volume 2 Pack. 22nd Day of Proko and counting.

Let’s look through your simplified animal portraits! In this critique, I’ll be looking through both level 1 & 2 submissions and giving advice on what is working and what can be improved.

Simplify complex forms into basic shapes to master drawing objects and environments from any angle.

It’s time to draw the figure! This project is all about capturing the action of a pose through rhythms.

For this project, we're going to design our line quality to be more interesting by practicing organizing the line weight.

Philip Dimitriadis shares the "Melted Pancakes" drawing technique to explore perspective and depth using organic shapes, contour lines, and overlaps. A great exercise for practicing perspective and form.

It's time to take what you've learned about proportion and give it a try for yourself.

Alright level two-ers...Since you've already got some experience with sketching, I want to give you a bit more of a challenge to start practicing sketching from Imagination!

Gesture drawing is a fundamental skill and one that many artists find difficult to approach, but in this course, I'll be showing you how I tackle this subject and give you everything you need to draw gestures with ease.

In this project, we’ll practice value composition by creating thumbnail sketches from reference photos. You’ll simplify images into three values in small thumbnails, focusing on capturing the main idea without details. We’ll also cover techniques for effective thumbnails, including simplifying, iterating with multiple variations, and experimenting with value groupings.

A beginner's guide to pencils and erasers! A breakdown of the many different pencil and eraser options out there. I’ll go over the different types, how they each differ from one another, the best way to hold them, and the most effective way to use them.

A beginner's guide to sketchbooks and paper with lotsa juicy info about paper types, texture, weight, archivability and most importantly, how to avoid the common mental pitfall of sketchbooking. I'll get you started on the right path with sketchbooks so you can focus on improving your drawing skills. And you can treat this lesson as a resource you can come back to in the future when you need to refresh your memory of drawing paper. Next week we’ll have a premium-only comprehensive beginners guide to Pencils, Erasers, and Sharpeners!

I dd the boots first, snail second. I think maybe I made the boots too complicated.

How to Draw Gesture

It’s time for level 2 critiques! Let’s take a look through your “Learning to Sketch from Imagination” projects and talk about some of the common mistakes.

Philip Dimitriadis expands on the "Melted Pancakes" technique to add more depth and realism.

Now that you know about the tapered stroke and simple CSI lines, it's time to learn how to sketch! Here's your next project.

Learn Figure Drawing in an approachable and entertaining way.

Let’s give the Level 1 “Dynamic Shapes” project a try. In this demo, I show my process for finding the gesture of a subject and then designing dynamic and interesting shapes that support that gesture.

In this project, we'll practice measuring accurate proportions with a portrait. Using our measuring toolkit we'll break down the face into basic shapes, starting with the biggest shapes and working towards smaller details.

This is a fun add on lesson to encourage creativity.

It's time for the week 1 assignment. I'll show you what we're gonna be doing and then it’s your turn to give it a try.

Now that we've covered gesture drawing basics—focusing on ideas over copying—let's dive into proportions.

To master perspective drawing, you need only basic tools: a sharp HB pencil, paper, and erasers. Mechanical pencils and printer paper are fine. Use a ruler! Don’t worry, it's not cheating. Understanding angles is crucial to learning perspective: protractors, T-squares, and triangles help. Axonometric perspective uses fixed angles without vanishing points. Linear perspective uses vanishing points; more flexible but harder to learn. Practice drawing toward vanishing points freehand. Keep tools simple and focus on learning.

It’s time to take what we’ve learned about proportions and practice drawing some more heads. We’ll be practicing incorporating proportional measurements into your existing drawings, focusing on brow-to-chin distances and dividing the face into halves and thirds.

In this 3rd demo, we dive into creating value composition thumbnails for Level 2 with a more complex concept. You'll learn how to use markers and pencils to experiment with different value arrangements, affecting how the subject appears—making figures seem smaller and more vulnerable or larger. We explore simplifying complex shapes, incorporating elements like cast shadows, and adjusting backgrounds to influence the mood. The lesson guides you through selecting a composition, planning with five distinct values, and developing a larger, detailed drawing that enhances focus on key elements like the face and hands.

Time for Level 2! Let’s push the shapes in our simple animal portraits and see what happens.

Time for a portrait drawing demo! I'll show you how to approach a drawing to get accurate proportions and then check your own accuracy in Procreate.

2 pictures - 1st (rounder) was done before watching the demo & the 2nd one was done after ...

why does it feel so off from the video. help

Alright guys, this is going to be a fun one! In this project, we’ll be constructing animal portraits using basic shapes.

Let's take a look at your "Simplify to CSI" submissions! I decided to combine both level 1 & 2 students for this critique since I saw very similar mistakes at both levels.

In this lesson I talk in detail about reflections and what bounced light is.

Let's break down the nebulous concept of gesture—it's about conveying ideas and emotions through abstract lines and shapes in your drawings.

Its time for critiques again! In this lesson, I’ll look over your sketches from observation and address the common mistakes. These two critique episodes took a bit longer to edit, so Level 2 critique coming out next week.

Heya, my name's Zenith, nice to meet ya! I love the way this site looks already and I'm excited for what the future holds for it. Let's drop some of our art down in the replies and a little message introducing yourself if you want. Here are some of mine:

It's here! Perspective without Brain Damage! Learn to see and draw your visions in perspective as you imagine them.

I cannot seem to make them work. I am talking about these kinds of things: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OPQZ2A8?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title This is the second one I have had and have similar problems. I need one for adjustable diameter pencils as some of mine, especialy charcoal ones, are too thick for normal sharpeners. So I use it by just sticking the pencil in and turning the handle on the back. The first one I had had adjustable settings for thin and thick, I tried both. I hold the pencil so it doesn't rotate as I turn the handle. The result always seems to be the tip of the pencil gets cut off and the "base" of the tip gets sharpend. So the pencil ends up with a broad flat head. Can anybody tell what I am doing wrong? Does anybody know of any good sharpeners that take pencils of any size that work? Please and thank you of course :)

I'm doing Proko's Portrait course, trying to go in open minded with no assumptions but it's proving tricky. So far I have just covered the videos on the Loomis method. Are the drawing exercises meant to be done of random heads (minus features) from your imagination, say, just a featureless head pointing in random directions? That might be where I am going wrong. I think I find the size/shape of the chin tricky as well. I know my drawings aren't great, they'll need repetition. I would just appreciate being told anything glaringly obvious, with respect to the course that I am following. Lastly, is it ok if I keep updating this thread as I progress through the course?

In this lesson I challenge you to be creative and use randomly found textures to inspire imaginative design.

In this lesson I share some more tips for brush control.

In this lesson, Peter Han shows us how to transform organic forms into mechanical designs using linear perspective. Starting with an organic object, like a peccary skull, we observe its structures and landmarks to visualize how to convert its shapes into mechanical forms.

Three-point perspective offers complete freedom to rotate objects in any direction. I'll break down the basics for you and introduce the "Y trick," a simple technique that makes drawing objects in 3-point perspective a lot easier.

Let's practice showing form using cross contour lines by drawing blobs, ginger, seals, lobsters, and other creatures.

I’ll recap what we’ve learned so far and discuss your next assignment.

Let's make drawing boxes fun by imagining constructing mannequin hands. This method is great for practicing perspective, breaking down hands and fingers into 16 boxy segments. The goal is to improve perspective skills, not perfect anatomy. Level 2 will take it a few steps further and draw the same hands from different angles.

Pear Critiques are here! Critique for the portraits coming Thursday, but I recommend level 2 students watch this critique video too. I give advice and demonstrate things that should be useful to both levels.

We're on to drawing boxes! We'll start with the basics of one-point perspective, covering the XYZ axes, horizon line, and vanishing points. I'll show you a demo drawing a scene filled with boxes and explain the limitations of one-point perspective.

Practice freehand drawing techniques by working with circles, angles, and straight lines. This lesson focuses on improving hand control and turning theory into confident execution. Keep practicing freehand drawing daily, even if it's tough at first; over time, your hand skills will rise to meet your brain skills.

Learn how to draw airplanes starting with rough blobs and refining them into structured forms.

You'll simplify images into just 2 or 3 values. This will improve your ability to observe and interpret values in your drawings.

We’ll refine our stylized study of Sargent’s work before moving on to the next module.

E.M. Gist has worked on various comic covers over the years, focusing on creating impactful single images that tell a story and resonate with viewers.

It’s time to simplify those snails and boots! I show you how I would do it in these step-by-step demos for the level 1 CSI project. Make sure to check back tomorrow for my level 2 demonstrations!

Tapered strokes are super important to create confident and visually appealing drawings. By connecting lots of small, tapered lines we can construct one clean complex line. Also, tapered strokes are essential in gestural loose drawings that carry energy and have a playful charm.

Erik Gist creates thumbnail sketches for a Fantastic Four cover, focusing on design, composition, and storytelling to capture the team's dynamics.

Erik sketches a new idea using the team to build a retro hovercraft. Ben lifts it, Reed works all over, Sue brings the toolbox, Johnny serves drinks.

Use rulers and simplify shapes to improve environments. Focus on perspective, storytelling, and practice daily to get better.

Let me introduce you to one of the best tools I know for perspective drawing.

In this video I will show you how to practice drawing the lower back.

An overview of using a limited pallet to create a skin ton chart.

To make your drawing look 3D, use these five techniques: Diminution, Convergence, Foreshortening, Overlap, and Atmosphere.

Now that you’ve all had some time to try the first project on your own, you can watch how I do it and figure out what areas you are exceeding and struggling with. Here is my step-by-step demo on how to properly execute the first project for level 1 students.

In this demo, I show the "light and shadow" method for organizing line weight.

In this demo, I show the "hierarchy of importance" method for organizing line weight. Check back next week for my demos on the “shadow and light direction” method and the level 2 project!

A real time demo of the step-by-step lesson on drawing hair.

3D Model: Simplified Foot Bones - Pose 2

In this lesson, I'll break down how to use triangles to create accurate angles in 15-degree increments, covering angles from 0 to 180 degrees. I’ll demonstrate how flipping and combining simple 30/60 and 45/90 degree triangles can yield various angles, like 135, 120, 150, and even specific ones like 15 or 75 degrees. These techniques are practical for understanding angles in freehand perspective drawing without memorization, though familiarity with these increments can improve precision.

A little pep talk on drawing from imagination. I'll be sharing my thoughts on when it's appropriate to start, and how to overcome the emotional cramp that often comes with it. Failure is a natural part of the learning process, so don't beat yourself up. Level one students, no pressure to start yet, but for level two students, it's time to start dabbling! I'll cover why it's important to start drawing from imagination early and balancing Drawing from imagination and observation.

Now that you’ve all had some time to try the first project on your own, you can watch how I do it and figure out what areas you are exceeding and struggling with. Here is my step-by-step demo on how to properly execute the first project for level 2 students.

Learn how to construct and place facial features, starting with the eye. Focusing on their structure, surrounding fat, and key features like the canthal ligament and tarsus plates. Considering the eye's asymmetry and how fat distribution affects its appearance, especially with age.

It’s time for the level 2 rhythms demos! I’ll be doing more quick figure sketches but this time I’ll be taking them a little bit further with additional large anatomical rhythms.

In this video I will show you the proper way to practice drawing the spine by tracing over a picture of a model.

Before we get into learning about lines, I want to give you an exercise to help you warm up your hands and draw nice fluid lines. This warmup is a fun way to help you practice drawing ellipses.

Let's apply what we've learned so far about 2-point perspective to something more organic. In this project we’ll be constructing 3D heads by imagining them as boxes.

A little pep talk for those of you who recently started your journey. When you were a baby, you learned how to talk by listening and repeating words, and you can learn how to draw the same way. Drawing is a way to communicate with pictures instead of words. I talk about training your mind and your hand with the right exercises and projects and how you can learn faster with the right mindset.

It’s time for some practice! Use the four step method we’ve learned to practice drawing some heads.

You need to up your download limit, or make it possible to download the entire course one has paid for.

Another example of drawing the human figure with a focus on structure.

The second example of mannequinization.

Let's take a look over your 8 Step Method project submissions to see what is working and what can be improved. We’ll review some of the most common mistakes like proportions, form intersections, perspective, wrapping lines, and feature placement.

Join me as I talk about layers and how to make the most of them with blending options, filters, clipping masks, and more.

I wish I could commit to painting in watercolor daily, but I think that's a bit unrealistic. Nevertheless, I want to paint more and I am starting this thread with the intent of posting to it at least once a week with watercolor paintings and sketches. Here are a few of my recent efforts. The first two floral paintings were demos I followed out of Julie Pollard's book, "Watercolor Unleashed", and the last two were studies done from the same photograph. This is a community thread, so let's exert some positive peer pressure on each other and sling some paint!

The first example of drawing the human figure with a focus on structure.

Control the convincingness of drawing with a practical application of anatomy.

I'm accepting questions for my livestream! I'll be showing you how I approach character design using traditional materials, and answering any questions you might have.

So i've been practicing drawing (almost) daily for the last 2 years or so. But I lack focus and structure. After listening to the draftmen podcast (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od1xbX2ESP8). I've decided to bring in more structure. The podcast mentions this Redit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/learnart/comments/dapk62/from_the_guy_who_made_the_most_comprehensive_list/) with a full curriculum. My challenge will be to follow this curriculum as close as possible. I've created this topic mostly to keep myself accountable. But i will post created work regulary, and any feedback/ critique from you guys is greatly appreciated! Some personal info: -39 years old -fulltime job outside art -On average i have 1 hour each day to practise (a bit more in the weekends) -Not a native English speaker, so please forgive me the grammar and spelling mistakes :) The first unit is figure drawing. I've already followed Stan's figure drawing course before, so im revisiting the course. Here are some 2 minute and 30 second gesture drawings (drawn in Procreate). Please let me know what you think of them.

Let's add further detailing from our reference image and wrap up what we’ve learned about studying real faces.

In this level 1 demo, I show you my process for finding rhythms with quick figure sketches. Check back next week for the level 2 demo!

Learn to use blobs, grids, and perspective techniques to draw diggers and scenes with depth, even when combining multiple perspective systems.

A time-lapse of a Figure Drawing Demonstration.