Drawing Basics
Getting Started
Lines
Shapes
How Perspective Works
Intuitive Perspective
Values
Bonus Content
Course In Progress
Course In Progress
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.
Newest
John David Carcache
4h
I can see progress in just these few days. Getting back into the swing of drawing after a long break.
Emm Rdgz
7h
Chirantan Talukdar
15d
Can someone please explain how the measuring with the pencil thing really works?
@swerveye
14d
Look up 'how to measure with a pencil art' and there should be some good guides. But the idea is basically you stick your arm out and measure, using your pencil, the size of something. You put your thumb/finger where that measurement is and now you can compare the size that you measured to something else. This gives you the relative sizes of two things.
So lets say Line A is half the length of your pencil, and Line B is a quarter the length of your pencil. Now when you go to your drawing, you know that Line A should be twice as long as Line B.
@swerveye
15d
I'm feeling okay about the proportions on this one but there's a lot of I could definitely improve upon. I've noticed during these exercises that I struggle to get clean areas like we see in the demo. I feel like stuff gets all muddied up. Making those clean line breaks isn't something that's coming naturally to me. I definitely also rushed the end - which really stands out in the hair with the lack of highlights, and the fact that I didn't finish the shirt (I got frustrated). I do plan on doing a follow-along with this demo to see my before and after but I don't have time at the moment.
@swerveye
13d
Another attempt after watching the critiques video. I only had 4 values in this because I felt like that was representative enough and I wanted to really focus on 1. Consistent shading and 2. Proportions/Accuracy. The shadows are a lot simpler in this drawing. I definitely could've added more details but I wanted to focus on the BIG picture without getting caught up in all the little things. I know the angle of the portrait is way different than the original. It's something I struggle with (just making the faces be oriented up-down) and something I'll be more cognizant of moving forward.
@swerveye
14d
Attempt #2. It's definitely a lot improved from the first one. The features of the face look a lot better. Last time I definitely got swept up in the details and failed to stick to the fundamentals of the shapes etc.
@markflys1
16d
David Salamanca
18d
this is tough, before and after watching the demo, with the little thumbnail
Lemuel Stewart
19d
My first attempt without watching the demonstration is on the left. Ashamed to say i got fustrated and loss interest in finishing. My second attempt was much more successful.
Jessica Dodd
19d
Jumped into this blind before watching his video approaching it. I haven't done an excercise like this in a long time, and approached it oddly. I started with construction like I was drawing and then painting the midtone and doing everything above and below that. After about 30 minutes of iterating onto it I got to this point.
I definitely need to recover a more methodical approach to starting.
•
19d
Finding reference images with more concentrated directional light, like the reference image included in the downloads, might make your job a bit easier here. The lighting in these images are quite diffuse, which means soft, even light that reduces shadows and highlights. You'll struggle to get a full value range in these images. This lighting is great for headshots because it's flattering but not so much for designing distinct value shapes.
You might find this tool interesting to experiment with: https://www.proko.com/values. You did a great job in your second drawing finding the mid tone shapes despite the lighting challenge. You improved a lot between your first and second attempts. Keep up the good work 👍
Jessica Dodd
19d
went back after seeing how he approached it, I think i got closer to what he was thinking.
Rob Hagen
23d
Night and day again. These courses are amazing. I did rush the demo follow along (I’m sure it shows) but the breaking down and sculpture analogy are paramount ideas.
Account deleted
Hi there! Here is my version of the portrait (I haven't watched the demo yet).
It was much more difficult than the pear 😂
I'm a bit disappointed about my shadows but this is beacause I miss a 6B pencil so I used only those : 4B, 3B, 2B and HB.
Thanks for your feedback 🙏
David Salamanca
26d
First portrait I’ve ever drawn. Feedback is welcome! I can’t wait to learn more. I made this in Photoshop
Harigovind N
27d
At first, I created a thumbnail as he suggested, and it helped me figure some things out. But since I'm a beginner, things didn’t really work together. Anyway did the second one.
Matthew Cabral
27d
Lemuel Stewart
29d
The pencil measurement explaination was complete lost on me :(
@collinp
1mo
I’m a beginner but I still wanted to make an attempt !
Büşra
1mo
And attempt without watching the videos because I don’t have premium 🥲
Reuben Francis
1mo
First attempt. Getting the hang of the digital medium.
Catssius
1mo
First attempt. Forgive a lot of this not being cleaned up since I just checked the clock and oh god it is 1:30 in the morning I lost track of time
Rajshree Hirani
1mo
First attempt at drawing. I shall use this as a benchmark and come back to it and the portrait to see the improvements I can make through the course. I had difficulty simplifying the shadows and proportions.
@jbut0656
1mo
First pic is before the demo, second with/after. Working on keeping it clean
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About instructor
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
