Need Help with Proportions
3yr
@vakarmalik
So this is supposed to be my attempt at drawing Jenifer Aniston. This was a quick doodle so I don't really expect anything much. But Lately, I have been struggling with proportions. The people I draw or paint don't look like who they are supposed to be.
I was hoping that someone with an experienced eye could tell me what could be done to make this right and what I can do to practice getting better at making recognizable people.
3yr
Here's what I'm talking about: Try to understand a curve in terms of measurable lengths and angle relationships. If you can do that, then you can definitely imitate those lengths and angles to produce a faithful likeness
@vakarmalik
3yr
I see what you are talking about in the image. I did not knew that dividing lines into straight segments could produce better results. I would have to try and see for myself. Thanks so much to you and to everyone. I got things to work on now.
Show all replies (2)
3yr
In my experience to get the right proportions it takes time, unless you are an expert on the field. If you want a general idea of what the subject looks like it's easier but if you want to really recreate the same exact person in the photo you REALLY need to take every small measurement and angle to do it right.
To speed up the process you should start with big geometrical shapes and keep comparing all the measurement untill you get a good result,
After that you can move to value while you try to check your proportions after each pass, you can see something different with the right value applied here and there.
Check out some Bargue drawing guide or similar. It should be helpful!
Another really important thing is to think in 3d forms and understand that you are representing a 3d object on a 2d surface.
Also use a plumline as someone esle already mentioned
3yr
It feels like, a big portions of the drawing goes in the start when making the sketch. I suppose my problem is that I was hoping to get accurate proportions in a small time. Considering I personally don't like to spend too much time on paintings. The most I do is hour or hour and a half on a portrait.
Listening to you, I think I should slow down and spend as much time as I can to get the proportions right and hope that speed will come with time.
Show all replies (2)
3yr
One thing you could do is use plumb lines: draw a horizontal or vertical line to see how features align with each other. For instance, you could do one from where the hair parts to the chin. Here is a Proko video on drawing measuring techniques. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzDGO0LssEM
3yr
Thanks, This would be very helpful to me. Do you think if i keep using this technique, it could help me not use any guides and just eye ball the proportions?
Show all replies (1)
3yr
Another tip, try breaking curves into shorter straight segments, turn a half circle into maybe 3 or 4 sections for example
Show all replies (4)
