2026-07-12

How to copy/study (drawing)

1. Analyze before drawing (~3 minutes)
2. Draw the panel border, same aspect ratio
   • Use a measuring grid
   • Where do features land relative to the edges?
3. Block the big form lightly with an HB pencil
4. Lay in the wrapping curves
   • Centerline, brow line, eye line, etc.
5. Copy features onto the curves
   • Check angles by holding pencil up against the reference
   • Compare negative shapes
6. Compare and write down
   • Be specific about differences!
7. Redraw from memory the next day

Drawing a profile from scratch

1. Ball for cranium, slice flat side planes
2. Decide tilt and turn
   • Draw centerline and brow line (they dictate everything else)
3. Attach the jaw from the side plane down to the chin
4. Divide into thirds
   • Hairline -> brow -> nose base -> chin (roughly equal)
   • Eyes at the head's vertical midpoint
   • Ear spans brow line to nose line
5. Build features as forms on curves
   • Eye is a ball in a socket, not an almond
6. Neck cylinders from behind the ears
   • Trapezius to the shoulders
7. Stylize

On materials

• 0.5mm mechanical pencil with HB lead
  • Workhorse
  • 90% of every study
• One 2B pencil for lines over construction
  • Darker than HB, not greasy like 6B