I already see a difference because I used straight lines from the start. I don't know if it's a good habit, but I used different marks to represent the hair, as I knew the contour shouldn't be focused on detail at this stage. I like how you mentioned just plugging things in and checking them, as I think that is a good method for my process. It felt wrong drawing boxes at first, establishing a measurement to build everything else on, but I can tell that because the first measurement was good, everything else was better, too. I still feel like I am not getting the full benefits of this, however. Maybe it's because I am comfortable drawing fast, or it's just years of habit, but I cannot, for the life of me, get measurements without using the shadows as shapes to measure from. This hurts me because my layout relies on value too early to represent the figure, and I don't know if that is the right approach. I'll keep trying to do this and see if slowing down gets me a cleaner result. I know I can just do another linework layer on top, but it would be awesome to start a full drawing from a cleaner start.

My attempt at this portrait drawing following along with Stan. I was happy with the drawing but did get confused during the measuring portion and had to watch the video a few times. After overlaying my drawing over the image in Procreate I missed a little bit in the majority of areas. Not too bad but my measurements were a little off.

My drawing stages

This was so hard. My attempt took about two hours. I did take short breaks. I had to write next to some of my markings what the mark was for otherwise I'd forget haha. This is a skill that I need to incorporate into my regular practice. It's mentally taxing though! Does anyone else think so too or is it just me?

I’m so confused 0_0

This is actually quite hard. I keep losing my place.

Two more portraits completed after watching the demo the first (the one that's not in black and white) I did checking multiple times in photo shop as I did it but the second I waited till the end. the first ended up being more accurate than the second but I feel I may have learnt more from the second ,but I not sure if any particular method is considered better thanks very much any advice would be appreciated.

Tried to give a try on a portrait of Cillian Murphy, i think the biggest mistake was on the neck and trapezium.

This one took AGES (including having to scrap the whole thing after over an hour and start again). It was a very frustrating process and I ended up giving up before I could complete all of the details (e.g. the hair) because I just felt burnt out with it. It doesn’t look right to me at all, but Photoshop is not allowing me to purchase it (issue with my credit card, maybe) so I’m not able to check it right now. I know I need to do more of these to practice - but gosh, I wish I didn’t, cause it’s not much fun haha.

I also painted the same photo because I wanted to understand values better and Boi that was hell of a challenge I pit more than 5 hours in this project and in between easily 10 hours of rest. I guess it's good for starting out, but I have alot to work out

annoying af, hope next one is better

I followed the demo and I think I was able to get it somewhat accurate to her, but the measuring still gives me a bit more trouble.

Hey everyone! Here's my second attempt (this time I followed all the demo-video)! It was reeeeally hard to measure everything!

First attempt: I think I rushed it too much: maybe I should take more time to take the right measures hehe.

Super helpful to walk through this with you, Stan. Especially as you discussed the order of features when drawing (it helps to have a map!). I clearly need more practice here, but it's great to have a framework to put in the reps practicing this.

Watching your process is so helpful. The talk through is really inspiring

It's still pretty difficult to accurately choose the proper units to use, but I think I'm slowly understanding how to do it. I'm still using a bit of guesswork and estimating, but I'm getting there! Surprisingly, I thought I measured the man pretty accurately, but when I compared it, it was quite off. I think a wrong angle somewhere just compounded into more and more mistakes, causing the eyes and nose to be of the entirely wrong angle. Oh well, time to practice more.

Guuys heelp ! :D I don't understand how to translate measurements made on the picture, to the measurement on the drawing. In the demo I see many times he is using one measurement on the picture and when translating it to the page he uses another one,I'm a bit lost. I've been using the same measurement on both things :))

i watched the demo and still missed the mark in so many places. i make such anxious lines! my inner perfectionist is yelling! i will say that a few months ago, this wouldn’t have even been recognizable as an attempt to draw the person in the photo. progress is slow but recognizable, even to my own very critical eye.

I realize that to get good proportion is patience