Demo - Simplify Portrait from Observation
Demo - Simplify Portrait from Observation
This lesson is premium only. Join us in the full course!
48:45
22K views
lesson video
Demo - Simplify Portrait from Observation
courseDrawing BasicsFull course (185 lessons)
$159
comments 679
Nikki De Backer
Here is my attempt after watching the demo. I used multiple pencils this time and tried to make the shapes more simple than last time. I did forget to shade according to the planes so my pencil strokes are a little bit messy. Now that I am watching the drawing from a screen I notice that I could have given the shirt a light value and that the shading is a bit messy. Feedback is always welcome!
LESSON NOTES

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.

Watch this step-by-step demo on how to properly execute the first project for level 2 students, join the premium course!


DOWNLOADS
mp4
simplify-from-observation-portrait-demo.mp4
2 GB
txt
simplify-from-observation-portrait-demo-transcript-english.txt
41 kB
file
simplify-from-observation-portrait-demo-captions-english.srt
68 kB
txt
simplify-from-observation-portrait-demo-transcript-spanish.txt
42 kB
file
simplify-from-observation-portrait-demo-captions-spanish.srt
69 kB
COMMENTS
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.
Justin Anderson
The first two are before the demo and the third is after, but like two days after as I worked on the pear again last night. I think it's getting better but, I still have a long way to go! I'm enjoying the process though!
Daniel Cho
Before and after the demo! I mainly didn't use enough of the darkest value and adjusted a bit of the darker midtones.
Ash
3d
Very nice!
@sharone
4d
A beginner here, but found this helpful to practice. Thanks for all the coaching.
@linhle125
14d
Your process breakdown was so helpful :) Not sure where I should post all four of my attempts, so dropping them here. Looking forward to learning to measure more accurately and shade more evenly.
Nathan Youngman
I learned a lot from this demo. Thanks very much! One question I have is about the shadow on his right cheek (left side). Is that a shadow of the hair strands? If we're taking a sculpting approach and leaving out the hair over his face, should we also exclude the shadows created by that hair? I took the opposite approach (before watching this demo) and included the hair strand that appears to be causing that shadow.
Moon
14d
First attempt: I completely missed the point of this simplification exercise. I went on auto-pilot and overdid it. Me going on auto-pilot also shows with the proportions. I stretched the face too much, because I was drawing this flat on a table on a vertical sketchbook. The angle I was drawing this on skewed my view I think. Second attempt: After watching the demo. I was drawing with the sketchbook as parallel to my view as possible lol! I think this followed the exercise better. Though I might have made the shadows on the forehead too big? Still, I am happy that doing this exercise nailed down the idea of simplicity and abstraction first, though I’m sure I could’ve simplified my attempt more!
Kevin Gasanli
Hi this is my attempt of the portrait. I feel like some things could be improved in terms of shading, but that is a motivation to keep learning. Any form of feedback is welcome.
Kevin Gasanli
After watching the critiques and Stan's attempt I decided to go back and adjust some things. I thought more about the plane changes, simplification and about the various tips about shadows and values.
Skye
23d
This assignment's got hands. I don't but that's what we're here to work on~
@jwillnyc
24d
I'm not "advanced" but figured I would try this anyways. 🤷🏽‍♂️
Matteo Santagata
Portrait drawing after watching the demo. Next step: mushrooms :)
Seth Jenkins
Good grief this is one of the worst drawings I've ever made in my life. I will say I am relatively new to using Krita so I was a bit confused as to the choice of brush I should use, when it came to shading I was zoomed in for too long before I realized the homunculus I was drawing. I didn't watch the demo, but I went straight to kind of just doing exactly what I wasn't supposed to do here, the airbrush was a poor choice and the contours are all over the place. I decided to go back and draw the pear after watching the demo and I can at least confidently say that drawing is much better than this one lol.
Zubin
1mo
tried again after watching the professors video, tough without the right pencils grabbing a real set of drawing pencils for next assignment
Alex
1mo
celeste perez
Having so much fun!
@tayaflocke
I did today the potrait, at fist I struggled so I start to watch the Demo. I tried not just copy, I hope that was successful.
@bbezia
1mo
Simplified Apple
Rik Van Roy
Simplified portrait from observation
Stéphane Tarot
I only did the pear at first because I consider myself as a level 1. But after the demo, I wanted also to give a try to the portrait exercise. So, here is my attempt.
Doodle Duality
my attempt. Was much harder than I had thought, and spent way too much time on it. x)
Leanne Rose Creedon
Third attempt, took my time with it and tried to keep it clean. Feel like I learned a lot from this exercise, thanks for the lesson Stan!
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!