Learn To Draw (From Life!): 3 Approaches To Measuring + Proportion
In this drawing for beginners class, I'll walk you through three different approaches to measuring and proportion, taking you from drawing from reference photos, followed by drawing from single objects to finally working from a simple still life.
Being able to understand measuring and proportion is an essential skill when you are learning to draw - whether you want to draw realistically, or play with exaggerated proportions to develop your style.
As a beginner, we’re often more comfy drawing from reference photographs, and the transition to drawing from life can feel like a daunting task. This class is structured in such a way that we will bridge the gap between drawing from 2D references and drawing from life, whilst investigating how to ensure we are achieving accurate proportions in the process.
We’re going to do this by using three different approaches to using measuring and proportion techniques in 3 mini projects: You can follow along with one, two or all three projects!
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- We will begin by going over the fundamentals and theory of what proportion and measuring in drawing is, and why it is important
- Next we will tackle our first project and use the grid technique to work from a reference photo to produce a drawing with accurate proportions
- Then we will progress to working from a single object to draw from for our second project, using the viewfinder technique to help us draw this accurately
- Finally we will move onto our third project where we will tackle a simple still life of 3 objects, using a variety of sighting techniques
These 3 projects give us the opportunity to explore proportion and measuring in a variety of ways, so that by the end of the class you’ll have an amazing toolkit of skills you can bring to any drawing project, whether you’re faced with a flat reference image, or a more complex still life.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
The materials for this class are super simple:
- A Pencil
- A few sheets of paper
- An eraser
- A ruler
- A pair of scissors / scalpel and cutting mat
- Some thread (or dental floss will do the trick!)
- Sticky tape
This class is aimed at beginners or those with a little drawing experience, or even more experienced artists who would like a refresher on measuring and proportion techniques.
I can’t wait to see you in class!
ABOUT MEL RYE
Hi! I'm Mel, a UK based multidisciplinary artist and teacher with over 15 years of experience. Im passionate about encouraging everyone to make Art, particularly those who think they can't (because I KNOW you can!). My catalog of beginner friendly online classes in drawing, art making for self-care and Adobe Photoshop offers structured, project based learning to build your creative skills.
☞ YouTube
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need drawing experience to take this course?
No, the class is designed for beginners (although I have had feedback from more advanced students that they also found it helpful!). It is useful if you are reasonably happy with very basic sketching techniques - for example drawing straight and curved lines, and simple geometric shapes like circles, squares, triangles, ovals etc - nothing too complicated, but that will just mean you can focus more on the skills we're focussing on this class (measuring and proportion) rather than worrying about being able to draw a shape.
If you feel you're not quite there yet, i'd recommend having a look at my other course Learn to Draw: A Beginner's Guide To Sketching Anything! which covers these fundamental sketching techniques.
Do I need to be good at maths to benefit from this course?
No not at all! There is a lesson in the course dedicated to understanding the mathematical principles behind measuring and proportion, which is geared toward beginners and gives you the foundational knowledge you need to understand all three approaches we'll be covering.
How is the course formatted?
All my courses consist of pre recorded video lessons. There are also downloadable resources such as worksheets, reference photos, guides or other materials which will help support your learning.
All my courses are structured around a class project, which is a practical way of applying the skills taught in the course, and also means that you will have created something by the end of the course, as well as learning lots of new skills - I think this is the best way of learning!
How long will I have access to the course for?
Once you have enrolled, you will have lifetime access to the course, which means you can access it for as long as it exists on the internet. If any updates are made in the future, you will have access to those too.
Can I purchase this course as a gift?
Yes you can - there is an option at checkout to buy the course as a gift. All you need to do is enter the recipient’s email address and there is an option to add a gift message if you’d like to. The course will be sent directly to them with a link to access it, along with your message if you added one.
I have a question which isn't answered here
No problem - i'm always happy to answer questions, please get in touch with me here.