Demo - Simplify Portrait from Observation
Demo - Simplify Portrait from Observation
This lesson is premium only. Join us in the full course!

Drawing Basics

Getting Started

Demo - Simplify Portrait from Observation

9.2K
Course In Progress

Demo - Simplify Portrait from Observation

9.2K
Course In Progress
Stan Prokopenko
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.
Write a post
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Newest
@david1801
This one was hard, maybe I could of simplified a bit more ! Day 2 of drawing what do you think ?
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
May Berry
Drew his face 3 times. 1st one before demo. 2nd one during the demo. 3rd by myself after the demo.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Tajih Phelps
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.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Chris G
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 😃
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@juan937
Now that I'm watching the video, I feel so undisciplined. Will have to do it again will post update when finished.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@anhhong
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
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Tajih Phelps
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.
Reply
Dawn B.
this is my first attempt. Thought it turned out ok.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Alex Jin
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
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Tony Huwa
before watching the tutorial and after watching. I did the ver2 for about 2 hours. Used 4 pencil. Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Rahul Paul
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.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Harley King
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
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@skyrise199
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!!!
Reply
@slambeano
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.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Harley King
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 :)
Reply
Rahul Paul
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
Reply
@waynebeam
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.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@waynebeam
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
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Gibbo
2 attempts with pear
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@waynebeam
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 👍🏽
Reply
Makana Studio
Open to feedback. Thank you!
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@waynebeam
I like those graphic angular shapes! Well-designed. I like looking at it. Very visually interesting 🤤
Reply
@skyrise199
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.
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@waynebeam
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.
Reply
@skyrise199
Oh right!! Does anybody have tips for drawing a mouth? I did not like how mine turned out. Thanks in advance!!
Reply
Hugo Schittly
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!
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@waynebeam
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!
Reply
@vaticvibe
Posting the originals here, about to watch the demo and do some new ones after. Please feel free to give me some feedback :)
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
@sniggy
#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 :)
Write reply...
Drop images here to attach them to the message
Martha Muniz
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.
Reply
Give a gift
Give a gift card for art students to use on anything in the Proko store.
Or gift this course:
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.
Help!
Browse the FAQs or our more detailed Documentation. If you still need help or to contact us for any reason, drop us a line and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Your name
Email
Message