Project - Measure Proportions

Lesson by

9.4K

Course In Progress

Assignments 1KLesson NotesDownloads 6

Project - Measure Proportions

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

in Drawing Basics

9.4K

Course In Progress

Assignments 1KLesson NotesDownloads 6

Deadline: Submit your assignment by 07/25/2023 for a chance to be featured in the next critique video!

Use the reference photo and all the measuring methods you learned in the previous lesson to practice drawing a portrait with accurate proportion.

Keep in mind that your layin will get harder as you move from big shapes to smaller details. Don't draw too small, otherwise the shapes of the features will be too small and harder to draw accurate. Keep the photo next to or in front of your paper to avoid distortion.

Expect a careful layin to take about an hour. Don't rush. Worry about accuracy, not time.

Remember - big to small, use straight lines, measure units, double check, find plumb lines, judge angles. Try to have fun!

Level 2, you're doing the same thing for this one. This exercise doesn't change no matter what your experience level is.

The Musketeer photo reference is from the Musketeer Model Pack by Grafit Studio

Lau Dabo

•

here is my attempt :

@toph

•

I decided to do a second face and I don’t know how but I did this one way faster than the first but i feel like this one came out well

@pierreyves

•

Multiple attempts and here my best shot. Not so good comparing to the model but I struggle to the beginning and placing all the part relative to other (where do I put my first draw? what unit can I take? what is the simple shape of this part? etc) I hope I will get better because I dream to draw accurate faces. Have a good night

onigi *pronunce [on-ie-gee]*

•

Doing this challenge again as an exercise before I start Designing Value Groups Assignment(https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/project-designing-value-groups/assignments). It always takes me at least two hours to finish this project. (1) My initial attempt (2) Using the layer function to find and fix mistakes. (3) After repeating (2) process several times.

Pat Lou

•

I eyeballed everything, now the proportions are off TT I'll try to come back to this next time to fix the proportions and add details!

@ryandt21

•

Did some more after watching the demo and I think they went a lot better.

Abitha J

•

I tried my best to do this and i think it turn out good.

Ryan

•

I had a pretty successful attempt I think. The main problems I see are that his right eye is a little too high and the slope angle of his shoulder is waaay too shallow. I tried just to judge that angle and I got it a bit off. The other stuff I really tried to measure. Not bad I hope??

@toph

•

This came out pretty good, however the face I think came out a lot more accurate than upper torso. And I think that’s because I got really tripped up with the fabric and started getting lost in the detail. That’s a skill I’d really like to work on however don’t know how to approach so if anyone has any tips that would be amazing

Rachel Dawn Owens

•

You’re very close. This looks awesome. It just looks like some of the diagonals are a touch off. The only one that stands out to me would be his shoulder. It’s too horizontal, so it makes it look a bit too wide. Narrow that should a little bit and this drawing is golden. Thanks for sharing. Nice stuff 👍

Tori Tempo

•

12d

I'm used to drawing heads on a much smaller scale in small sketchbooks or on a digital tablet. It was very challenging to construct a head on a large scale, but I think it turned out ok. I scrapped my first attempt. I took it into photoshop to compare with the reference, and it was definitely off in places. I tried to stay disciplined in measuring everything, but I found myself relying on eyeballing quite a bit.

Julia

•

13d

This was definitely a challenge. I feel like quite a few things went wrong, but hopefully it will get easier with practice! I think I could improve by using stronger shapes and simplifying them in a more intentional manner. Feedback and comments are always appreciated!

@rubenleon

•

15d

I took a head drawing course with Michael Hampton, so I already have some tools and experience drawing heads. Retrospectively, I see now that I didn't add as much space as I should have for the side plane of the head, and I'm sure I could have simplified the lip shapes better. If I were to redo this, I would definitely put much more time into designing the bigger shapes than the smaller shapes.

Julia

•

13d

Wow! I love your confident shapes and lines. I especially like how it feels like the hat is wrapping around his head. It's obvious that you took great care and time with this one. Great job!

@rubenleon

•

14d

Forgot to include the comparison

mike mcdonald

•

18d

I had a hard time wanting to do this assignment and put it off for a while. I definitely messed up the shape portion of this, I didn’t simplify them.

Julia

•

13d

Hi Mike, I struggled with this one too. I think it's supposed to be challenging, so I wouldn't worry too much about it! :) Even if you feel like your shapes aren't simple enough, it does seem like you were thoughtful with them. I really like the way you simplified the ear!

L Kelly Jr.

•

22d

Feel pretty good about the project. But one thing that bothered me even though Stan said it was going to take some time was eye balling things can I get some advice to do it better because I was going on about an hour and a half measuring proportions before I got to the detail which only took 15 minutes.

Martha Muniz

•

14d

Don't worry too much about time, as building the technique for accuracy can definitely take its time. It's better to be careful with this project than to rush through it. Plus, you're in a totally normal timeframe either way :) Keep practicing, you're already on a great path!

Andrew Kovachik

•

23d

Twas a lot of fun. Shocked how far off I got though :D I guess this one will take some more practice.I think I really messed up the width of the side of the head (ears and right edge of hat) and esspecially the highs. I moved those babies up like a whole inch. Left shoulder I put in kind of by eye and also trying to match it with a point on the scarf I thought I identified well but I guess I was off. Oh well, onto the next, haha.

Andrew Kovachik

•

20d

Tried a proportions based on Good the Bad and the Ugly. Went better I would say. This one was a bit in the angle and shape of theyes more than the actual positioning. I wasn't too concerned with the shape of the hat as I didn't think variances in that would mater too much.

Henry

•

24d

Musketeer: I tried two attempts. First attempt was the sighting method, while the second attempt was eyeballing Performer: I used a mix of plumb lines and eyeballing

Rachel Dawn Owens

•

23d

Nice portraits! Notice how Proko ghosts in his lines during his demos. Work lightly to start. If you start with a light lay-in sketch and then draw more refined marks on top, it’s easier to line things up. Rather than trying to get every mark right immediately. Keep at it. Excited to see more!

Léo Ikhlef

•

24d

I got sideways when doing the details xD I'll try doing others after watching the demo, so I can see what mistakes I probably made. One I know for sure was not using real straight lines, but slightly C curved lines. Really hate the eyes, but definitly can see how I could improve it, when simplifying the reference. One step at a time !

Rachel Dawn Owens

•

23d

Take it slow and keep going. You will get a lot out of this course.

Disha

•

26d

Moses

•

1mo

ear a bit small, cheekbone a bit too protruding, mouth a little bit high, but otherwise not terrible I think

Rachel Dawn Owens

•

1mo

Nice work 👍

@utopianprince

•

1mo

I can see some errors for sure—frustrated that those eyes ended up too far apart in spite of my best efforts lol. The nose and the ear were both wild to draw; my brain fought me every step of the way on both. Still not sure how I did re: the ear, actually. Those folds are really hard to capture. Enjoyed doing this and am eager to get quick enough at this even to take an hour; this took me about four.

Rachel Dawn Owens

•

1mo

The proportions are off, but it’s still a cool drawing. The variety of line weights looks great.

Full course

You will be given unexpiring access to watch the videos online .

View course details

Give a gift

Give a gift card for art students to use on anything in the Proko store.

Or gift this course:

About instructor

go to profile

Stan Prokopenko

Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.