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
Yury
12h
One thing that I have noticed when watching this demo during the day, that darker tones are brighter when display is adjusted to higher brightness (it is very bright right now in the room). I drew assigment y-day and it was evening and I saw the hair being fully dark with just a few spots of ligher tones. What a surprise! --- I guess that is the lesson for myself: use display in calibrated mode when I want to draw an image from display.

Weidson Natanael
1d
My attempt to level 2, i had a lot of fun doing this one
19h
Hi! You're starting out strong with the course--you've got great tonality in your strokes/value groups, clear edges, and a good grasp on simplification. As for feedback:
There are a few spots in the shadows that stand out as brighter and more detailed--the eyelid, nose, and jaw area. Try bringing these down in value, or even combining into the surrounding groups of value where possible. While they may be lighter than other areas in shadows, they don't change enough to be as bright and detailed as areas hit by direct light.
Another common misconception that's a rather quick fix is leaving the eye whites as pure white. Even if they are literally white, due to the shadows, they most usually appear more of a light grey, but take into account how intensely the environment will cast a shadow on a case by case.
For proportions, the course will go more in depth and give more exercises to train this skill, but a quick tip for now that can help is to check the alignment of features/checkpoints against others, especially on the vertical or horizontal. For example, on the right side of the page (the part of the face cast in shadow), a vertical line starting from the left tip of his eye would align with his nostril edge and lip edge. This knowledge can help both with placement and assessing/correcting your lay-in sketch.
Hopefully this helps, and let me know if you ever have any questions come up :)
Art Stark
4d
Finding, and fixing mistakes is part of the process! Who knew?! Best part of the video is watching Stan erase and fix stuff. I'm so glad this was not edited out. Wow… so cool. Well, if screwing up is part of it all, then drawing could be a whole lot more fun. *ooh boy* sorry… Had a moment there.
Jasmine
6d
It's difficult, but I like doing the portrait block-in!! It's not so great right now but it was fun. It's still hard to control and separate the dark and light halftones....I also did the pear again using the provided reference.
Jasmine
6d
Hi guys I'm new. The first set was the first attempt I really wanted to start after watching the demo but Stan said we shouldn't which was difficult. The first try was the set of fruits. The second try after watching was the pear. Honestly identifying values and plane changes with its unusual shapes is so hard. But it was fun. feedback is always appreciated. Thank you so much!
Alan Seedhouse
7d
This is my first attempt at the portrait block in. The paper I used has a really heavy tooth so it was hard to get clean edges and it looks very grainy, Great exercise and I will probably do it again on smoother paper.
Yury
20h
Good one anyway! Maybe the size of your drawing a bit too small for such grain? From my exp heavy grain is great for bigger drawings.

kaj
13d
Decided to draw two of the pears, then watched the pear demo and redrew them. Then decided to also draw the portrait, watch the portrait demo, and redraw it.
Fixing proportions was and is difficult, especially when I already had different values down around the eyes, noses, and mouth. Couldn't really get it exactly how I'd like, but happy with my portrait redraw overall.
Andrew Spinney
14d
First attempt before demo and then second attempt after demo. Still working to stay simple and finding those values.
Siv Nilsen
20d
First attempt before watching the demo and then second after watching. I really run out of patience to measure all correctly and it is very obvious looking at these drawings... Also I occasionally get confused with the levels. Need to focus on simplifying. Also I have too much of the highlight and light halftone. It is too bright... On to third attempt.
19d
You can really see improvement in your second drawing! I feel ya, measuring can be a bit tedious but it certainly helps with proportions when drawing (I know this was more focused on the lighting though) :)
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Dalton Andrade
20d
19d
Nice drawing! One suggestion -- I think his face could be a bit wider. We can see a bit more of his right cheek and eye in the reference photo :)
Show all replies (1)
Sita Rabeling
20d
Watching Netflix and exercising.
19d
Cool!
Did a slide with some tips on values :)
Cheers!
Show all replies (3)
Matilda
20d
Here is the second attempt for the level 2 project... I really struggled with the values.... Please feel free to give any feedback!!:D
Lenserd martell
20d

Steveen Molina
20d

Maximilian Stallybrass
20d
The pear, before and after the demo.
Alixia Belisle
23d
I made the pear🍐 . the first photo is the pear that I drew only with the reference photo without looking at the demon. the second photo is the pear while watching the demo video. Thank you Stan!
23d
Great improvement and lovely work overall! :D
Bewoot
24d
Oscar de Luna
28d
Oscar de Luna
28d
Ok now I've seen the demo, I'll try again x.x

callin
28d
here is another attempt, I feel like I did pretty good except made the forehead a bit big but besides that this was my best so far, and would love to hear what I could have done to improve upon it.

luckylefty999
1mo
My first attempt at simplifying the pear, followed by my second attempt after watching the demo.
Freed GB
1mo
Wow, the difference is so noticeable !
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Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.