Project - Measure Proportions

Lesson by

7.5K

Assignments 845Lesson NotesDownloads 6

Project - Measure Proportions

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

in Drawing Basics

7.5K

Assignments 845Lesson NotesDownloads 6

Deadline: Submit your assignment by 07/25/2023 for a chance to be featured in the next critique video!

Use the reference photo and all the measuring methods you learned in the previous lesson to practice drawing a portrait with accurate proportion.

Keep in mind that your layin will get harder as you move from big shapes to smaller details. Don't draw too small, otherwise the shapes of the features will be too small and harder to draw accurate. Keep the photo next to or in front of your paper to avoid distortion.

Expect a careful layin to take about an hour. Don't rush. Worry about accuracy, not time.

Remember - big to small, use straight lines, measure units, double check, find plumb lines, judge angles. Try to have fun!

Level 2, you're doing the same thing for this one. This exercise doesn't change no matter what your experience level is.

The Musketeer photo reference is from the Musketeer Model Pack by Grafit Studio

Juan Muniz

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First attempt for this... Honestly I don't hate it! I've practiced a bit if head anatomy so I definitely used that knowledge to speed things up a bit.... What do you guys think? Might give it another whirl but we'll see

@rakeshuniyal

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11h

first attempt

John Edgeworth

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If this is your first attempt before the video, then when you watch the video with the instructors help you will see, each and every step you will need to take, to shape the face, and the area's needed to shade. You will see a massive jump in your 2nd attempt as compared to the first.

@dollydigital

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12h

first attempt!

Ayush Srivastava

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How do we measure and draw without the use of a ruler? Quite confused.

Melanie Scearce

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Hey @Ayush Srivastava, you are measuring using reference points on the face. At 3:55 in the demo above, Stan calls these reference points "units" and explains how to use them. A unit could be the whole head -- which is why you will hear artists reference the height of an average body as "7 and a half heads tall" -- or the even the length of the nose for example. You can use what makes the most sense to you. In the video, Stan walks you through how he thinks about it, which can be really helpful when trying to understand this concept. Give it a listen and let me know if that makes sense!

Antonio Santiago

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This was a fun exercise, it's nice to draw off of measurements. Definitely learned a lot doing this portrait. I noticed that the ear is wider than the actual picture. I see how important accurate angles are, if you make a wrong one it can throw off all the rest of your measurements. Any advice is very welcome.

@fluffybuttss

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This took me about 5 hours over the course of a very long time. I feel like I could have finished this a lot sooner had I just "let go" but I also felt like that would have disregarded the point of the exercise

Arthur Nesbitt

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So my first attempt was as most people are saying, pretty exhausting lol. I tried it again with my husky, really trying to focus on the horizontal and plum lines, and I had a good time. Definitely an interesting approach. I'm looking forward to trying this exercise again in the coming year

@deadsm

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I feel alright about this, as I feel like I learned a lot about my weaknesses. I had to switch on the reference overlay twice, mainly for the size of the eyes. I feel like it's extremely important to nail those, as it's often what makes or breaks a portrait. One thing I realized is that I really like to include value maps and ambient occlusion in my gesture lines. I tried to fight adding values here, but I feel that overall I have a tough time visualizing the form in 3D without some form of light and shadow. I have included my first version before using the overlay to show how important it is for me to double-check my measurements. I hope one day to nail them on the first try, and I feel like if I can get the eyes properly fitted, then I'll be much happier overall. Also I just realized that I unintentionally used curves. I really need to stop myself from using the Riley rhythms for projects like this.

Shreyans

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It was really challenging. Had so much fun! Any critique is welcomed.

Carlo Julian

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I'm happy with this. I think I made his jaw and chin a bit too short though. I'm looking forward to learning to eyeball the proportions because this was super tedious!

@deadsm

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Great job at measuring those shapes! Each one is so clear and precise.

@deadsm

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Great job at measuring those shapes! Each one is so clear and precise.

Melanie Scearce

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Very nice drawing and great photograph! The key to intuitive proportions is consistency of practice. It looks like you're well on your way, keep it up 👍

Gilles Dubuis

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Fighting laziness is the real homework.

Melanie Scearce

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Lovely drawing! You nailed it

@lauren7ragland

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10d

I started with measuring to get the outer forms, face and hat in a good placement...but I will admit to going by eye and looking at angles for most of the rest of the drawing...patience for gridding and measuring everything is not my strong suit.

@hwjones91

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11d

Done before watching demo need to go back and attempt again after demo/critique videos

Andrea Anaya

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13d

I've attempted drawing this man several times. This is probably my best attempt so far. Still off. I think I will try it again and REALLY try to get the big shapes down before I move on to smaller details. Included the drawing with the corrections as well. Also included an earlier attempt where the proportions are way off.

Andrea Anaya

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12d

Last attempt before I watch the critique video. It went a lot better today. I focused on getting the big shapes as accurately as possible and I think that helped a lot. I included a picture after I corrected the lines a little bit.

Rachel Dawn Owens

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13d

Nice improvement! I love your linework. Lovely marks

Ben Whitfield

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14d

I enjoyed this lesson a lot. I am happy with my attempt but I don't have Photoshop to see how accurate I was. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Melanie Scearce

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14d

You did a great job with this project! The angles of the facial features line up very nicely. You may have drawn the hat too small because you were getting close to the edge in your sketchbook, so watch out for that.

Pablo Gutierrez

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17d

It was fun doing all the measurments. I did find frustrating when noticing something was off, correcting it would make me see something else was wrong and so on.

Luis Ángel Ruiz de Gopegui Rando

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17d

Hello everyone! Here I present my first lace. I have to say that I have learned a lot. When checking in Photoshop I gave myself a 96% correct rate... Do you agree? It's been totally wild...

@fluffybuttss

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19d

I spent 2 hours so far and I’m still not done, yet I’m SEVERELY bored, I would rather do everything by eyeballing it but I’m pushing through it

Melanie Scearce

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19d

Push through! These exercises will help you eyeball better down the road, it's worth it :)

@charliecasselart

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22d

??? I love the process of being able to check my proportions at the lay in stage. Does any one know how to do this in Procreate or Fresco? Thanks in advance!!