Stan Prokopenko
San Diego, CA
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
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Stan Prokopenko
4d
5d
Some of my students are hosting their own practice session this Sunday at 7PM EST, focusing on Rhythms from the Drawing Basics Course - https://www.proko.com/s/KLsC
Stan Prokopenko
5d
Stan Prokopenko
11d
Stan Prokopenko
11d
15d
I'm not new to drawing, I even work. But the perspective is very difficult for me. It took me years to realize that 1,2 points are conditional, and 99% of the time we see the world in 3 points.
It took me a few more years to realize that this should be at the subconscious level. I have to draw millions of boxes so I don't have to think. And here I am again. It will never be enough. And I have to find the strength not to reflect.
13d
Ya perspective is hard. I'll try to explain things as best as I can and give you projects that will force you to work through the problems. It won't be easy. You'll run into challenges and you'll make mistakes. But remember, they're just drawings that you can throw away and try again.
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17d
This might be too advanced and this is just a basic excersice for 1 point perspective. But I have some questions. Using 1 point perspective for an object that shows more than 2 planes (front and above or from below) is just something theorietical? Because When you see something from slightest angel it will be a second varnishing point? In the renaissance they used 1 point perspective even When they showed more sides because they hadnt learned other kinds of perspective yet. (Did you teach me that? :D ) In one of your courses I don’t remember wich you said if you see the frontplane undistorted with 90 degrees angles a perfect square you can’t see the side plane. Its an impossible box. So the boxes towards the sides in this practice are impossible boxes? Just theoretical?
13d
Perspective is an invention to create the illusion of what we see. 1-point perspective is a very simplified version of that, but it's not exactly what we see. Even 3-point perspective isn't exactly what we see. Reality is closer to fisheye, curvilinear, because our eyes are round. I'm sure you've seen those perspective drawings where all the lines are curving a bit.
We're starting with 1-point because it's simple and we need simple right now to just get familiar with converging edges to a point.
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Stan Prokopenko
14d
Stan Prokopenko
19d
Stan Prokopenko
19d
22d
This is one of my favorite videos of yours so far @Stan Prokopenko . So descriptive and neatly organized. Thanks for simplifying one of the more complex tools we use in art (as well as take for granted)
20d
thank you!
22d
Asked for help
Final page from real life reference I used average proportions rather than from reference. I had trouble with the down angles of the head especially. Critique or advice would be appreciated.
20d
The ones from the 3D model are awesome. I think you got that down. Try to do a few pages from memory and then more from photos.
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Hey everyone, I just started the Drawing Basics course. I'm posting my first assignment. I did this drawing before watching the demo. I'm trying to develop my eye for seeing light and shadows. I find that the most tricky. I'm also trying to free up a bit when I draw. I'm looking forward to the process, I'm going out to get some softer pencils today.
20d
Very clean! great job controlling the pencil. Only thing to improve is to darken the darker halftone section because right now there is a big value jump from shadow to light, with no transition between.
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Asked for help
I just did a bunch of scribbles and a few shapes here and there
20d
Nice! Looks like the tools are working :)
Here is my first attempt at the camel. I wasn't sure how to handle some of the cast shadows around the head.
20d
Don't worry about the cast shadow for now. Do more of these to keep improving your lines and training your arm.
Before and after. I am pretty happy.
It proves to what extent one needs to understand the theory and learn the techniques before relying on intuition.
I did not respect the assignment for the highlights in the hair.
The right eye is higher too, a lot to improve on, but educating myself to be patient with the lay in, as well as understanding the values and correctly using them in the shadows especially, are some of my biggest challenges.
20d
Much better. Your second one is more controlled, better values, better proportions, better shapes!
1st and 2nd Portrait Project. !st one was done quickly before watching the Demo and Critiques, the 2nd one was after. I took my time with the 2nd one. A tough concept! Onto the next lesson soon!
20d
HUGE improvement!
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24d
Looking forward to the lesson though in the meantime can I ask for some homework?
22d
Practice those straight line warmups I showed you earlier in the course. You'll be drawing A LOT of lines in this perspective course, so it'll be helpful if you're comfortable with it. Also, you can watch these older free lessons:
Structure Basics – Making Things Look 3D
The Illusion of Depth – Perspective, Details and Overlapping Forms
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Stan Prokopenko
26d
