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Establishing proportions is a common mind numbing challenge artists struggle with when drawing from reference. When we draw we’re usually using a combination of eyeballing and measuring, but if you don’t know how to train in these two areas, you’ll continue to get whacky proportions. This lesson will help train your mind to improve your accuracy, show you tools you can use to help you judge proportions and the skill set to give yourself quick feedback so you can improve faster.
00:00 – Intro
01:34 – Measuring
02:26 – Sighting
03:31 – Plumb Lines
04:12 – Angles
04:45 – Units
05:31 – Straights
05:58 – Negative Shapes
07:00 – Big to Small
08:30 – The Small Stuff
09:53 – Self Critique
11:28 – Outro
Related Lessons
Drawing Measuring Techniques –
#drawingbasics #drawingprocess #measuringadrawing
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Instructional How to Draw videos for artists. My drawing lessons are approachable enough for beginners and detailed enough for advanced artists. My philosophy is to teach timeless concepts in an entertaining way. I believe that when you are having fun, you learn better. I take pride in producing high-quality videos that you will enjoy watching and re-watching.
CREDITS:
Artist | Instructor – Stan Prokopenko (
Producer – Stan Prokopenko, Sean Ramsey (
Script – Stan Prokopenko, Tiffanie Mang (
Production Assistance – Stephen Clark ( , Sean Ramsey, Charlie Nicholson
Editing – Hongju Lim ( Sean Ramsey, Stan Prokopenko
Publishing – Alex Otis, John Birchall
Music Used with Permission
Intro – The Freak Fandango Orchestra
Additional music by Epidemic Sound
Comments
35 responses to “How to Draw Accurate Proportions”
Check out my previous lesson on measuring techniques if you need help with measuring your drawing – https://youtu.be/tZtnKp4fAPk
Phenomenal advice
when doing this exercise, is it better to put the ref side by side, or is it better that the ref is in the certain position away from you ? for example maybe on a different monitor ?
I'm such a indie artist trying to make my outlaw parody but with good porption.
❤❤❤
Me after drawing eyes:
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I also like to soften, or blur my vision enough so I can only see the large contour shapes. I find it helps me in the initial block in.
Before watching tutorials and learning the “proper” way to sketch, like loomis etc— I knew how to eyeball. I thought that was how you draw 😅 and they were actually good drawings… but then after being conscious of the “proper” way and doing that, measuring and stuff— eyeballing no longer worked for me…
10.000 hours of practicing to. . . . . . . . . HELL YEAH
I had an art teacher who emphasized drawing the eyes first.
Thank you very much. I lost my drawing skills because I didn’t draw for years . But it’s reborn
Very useful
"Eyeballing with our better judgement", that's why my drawings are off due to poor judgement
since measuring every angle is not possible(not efficient), I made a divider like thing(that thing you get inside a geometry box) myself, and open it or close it to measure angles and transfer that angle onto my page
Simple drawing lessons
Excellent drawing lesson
for me, I eyeball it with visual cartesian plane coordinates.
At 9:43 what does "Lianns" or whatever that word mean? Sorry English is not my first language
4:35 “Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills” -napoleon dynamite
I am super proud that I use plumline 😂 method before I knew it is a thing. I love your sense of humour making video fun to watch. Thanks!!!
Thank you im gonna try this <3
This was EXTREMELY helpful Ty!
🙂 awesomeness!
These are some REALLY solid tips and mentions some of the best methods ive heard/used and some from my art class as well. 10/10, again very solid advice! i would highly recommend this channel to any artists out there 🙂
Finally a tutorial that actually helps
10:40 ive been doing exactly this for my studies and felt like such a hack fake artist. Good to know its a real thing hahah
You just earned a follow I like the way you explain your way to get past the the things that hold you back
My issue is with eyes, mostly. And i never really find anything that actually tackles my issue. I can never seem to get the eyes right in relation to left and right. Everything always tackles the up and down- eyes are about at the half of the face thing- but ive never had an issue with that. But left and right? Ooooh boy. I keep thinking i find a meathod that works but it never does. It always only works for one face. I see people draw these huge circle to relate to the under skeleton- but that doesnt help me either, as its too much space. My brain cant figure out where is the correct place in that circle all the time. And whilst i often times try to go off the nose, that changes with angle and faceshape/features. It just. Augh
Does it work in the new update?
I liked the trick at the end
When i draw a face it looks good but end not looking like the reference at all
Bro look like cristepher nolan😅
"Girls like guys who can measure angles" 😂🤣 I can confirm, lol.
3:13 LMAO
I just stumbled on this guys video, and his really humorous 😆😆