Drawing Basics
Getting Started
Lines
Shapes
How Perspective Works
Bonus Content
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
@david1801
16h
This one was hard, maybe I could of simplified a bit more ! Day 2 of drawing what do you think ?
May Berry
23h
Drew his face 3 times. 1st one before demo. 2nd one during the demo. 3rd by myself after the demo.
Tajih Phelps
2d
My attempt at the portrait before the demo. I feel like I got the overall goal of chiseling the planes and defining the values. It could just be refined a bit better and not as messy. But that comes with practice. I’m proud of this but please feel free to critique.
Chris G
3d
My first attempt at drawing this portrait, had trouble with the shapes a bit but I thought it came out alright, any feed black would be great 😃
@juan937
4d
Now that I'm watching the video, I feel so undisciplined. Will have to do it again will post update when finished.
@anhhong
4d
I found it very challenging with the details of eyes & lips. The due I drew looks different with the reference (eyes are bigger & the lips look like he's smiling). It's also difficult to erase & change after already filling the value. Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks
Tajih Phelps
2d
I think your second picture is very dog in terms of using simple shapes and values. However I feel you would have have a much easier time if you constructed the head first. That way, the proportions would be correct and everything would line up with eachother, but of course this is a beginners course so in time that skill will be covered.
Dawn B.
5d
this is my first attempt. Thought it turned out ok.
Alex Jin
8d
I sorta used the Loomis method to get the proportions on the face first and maybe should have just focused on more generalized shapes first
Tony Huwa
8d
before watching the tutorial and after watching. I did the ver2 for about 2 hours. Used 4 pencil. Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks
Rahul Paul
8d
This is my second attempt at this project - Simplify portrait from observation.
I did this again because when I saw the whole video again I noticed I didn't follow some instructions carefully, significant among them are :
1. Use only lines to define simple geometric shape
2. Starting with light shadow first, then working on light family - dark and light halftones and then at last core Shadow part.
3. Less detailing of shirt, making face more prominent.
4. Using 5 values only in a defined, sculpted form.
5. Trying to keep the proportion right with eye estimation.
If you notice any other points, please feel free to give feedback/ criticisms.
Eagerly want to learn.
Harley King
8d
Took two attempts at this, first time I probably spent 20 mins on the foundation/proportions, which after Stan's demonstration he noted he spent an hour and a half measuring! haha. So second time round I put a lot more time and effort into it, had to erase the left eye, and adjust the jaw line. I surprisingly struggled with placing 5 values and deciding whether something was half tone or shadow or black. Trickier than I thought! Open to criticism :) Thanks
@skyrise199
8d
I like it!! The second one looks very good! Time well spent for sure! Now…
Only feedback I can give despite my ignorance is in regards to shadow shapes. My opinion is that there are several darker shades that were missed close to the cheek bone. It is also difficult for me to distinguish some darker values. They seem very similar to the lighter ones to my eyes. This is all.
Hope this is somehow useful to you!! Best of luck!!!
@slambeano
9d
This is my third attempt at this, first time with an untextured brush. Everytime I got up to do something else I found something that was off, so I had to force myself to stop eventually to move on lol. This was a lot harder than I was expecting, but I like the way this last one came out.
Harley King
8d
I can see the 5 values, I just think you've simplified it a lot more, which isn't necessarily a bad thing? I did a similar thing with my first attempt, I combined a lot of the values but after watching Stan, you could see him endlessly searching for small value changes. Your proportions are really nice, however you may have also simplified the shapes. Nice work :)
Rahul Paul
9d
It is quite a bit challenging, I agree lol. But I'm glad you headed for the exercises. But for this one I think you could have expanded the value range a lil bit. It seems to have only 3. 5 would have been good
@waynebeam
9d
Used 4 pencils for this one. Couldn’t find my kneaded eraser, so with hand-smudge all over it was hard to get that crisp paper-white highlight value at the end. Tried to really mass the darks. Didn’t capture the really angular quality to his face.
@waynebeam
9d
Only used one pencil, but after watching the demo I realize I could have used a range. Definitely think the lights all need to be lighter. Got lazy with shading large areas, but I know that is a skill that takes patience to practice
Gibbo
10d
2 attempts with pear
@waynebeam
9d
I think you did a nice job separating dark from light. At a squint it’s super clear what large shape is dark and which is light 👍🏽
Makana Studio
11d
Open to feedback. Thank you!
@waynebeam
9d
I like those graphic angular shapes! Well-designed. I like looking at it. Very visually interesting 🤤
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@skyrise199
11d
Trying this out as a novice was crazy hard! Lots of hours of impatience, trial and error until I forced myself to let it go and finish. But hey, isn’t that what loving the process of drawing is all about (͠≖ ͜ʖ͠≖)? Best of luck to the rest of my classmates.
@waynebeam
9d
I like it! I think you got the likeness/shapes pretty accurate. Maybe reserve some of the lightest value for a few key spots. Ie the eye on our right is pretty dark in the photo.
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@skyrise199
11d
Oh right!! Does anybody have tips for drawing a mouth? I did not like how mine turned out. Thanks in advance!!
Hugo Schittly
14d
Hello ! On the right my first attempt (digital) and on the left my attempt on paper following the video! It's easier to get the values right digitally I think, but I have a lot to learn on how to use procreate. I would love to get some feedbacks! Have a nice day!
@waynebeam
9d
Especially in the digital one I really like how you kept the whole (our) right side of the face in a big shadow shape. Looks good!
@vaticvibe
14d
Posting the originals here, about to watch the demo and do some new ones after. Please feel free to give me some feedback :)
@sniggy
18d
#help
1. why is he looking at me so reproachfully and sadly? :(
2. why are my strokes so wild?
3. the project only taught me one thing: Impatience.
4 I need new pencils. In more than 2 thicknesses
5 I turned him into an elf.
:(((( Please tell me that those feelings are normal. Hopefully, I will make you proud by showing talent with flying boxes :)
18d
I do think your values and rendering are pretty nice :) I would say that the 2nd darkest value seems to jump out a bit on the left side by being placed directly next to much lighter values, so something like the 3rd value could be more suited as a transition between dark and light.
Also, don't stress too much about accuracy, there are future lessons that help you practice and develop this skill. But for now, something to keep in practice is checking the alignment of features across the page, both vertically and horizontally. For example, when drawing in the eyebrows, you could measure that the bottom left edge of the eyebrow is at about the same height at the highest point of the right eyebrow, and that this also aligns with the top of the ear.
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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.
