Getting the Proportions Right in Your Drawing - Painting & Drawing Tips

Do you Struggle with the Proportion of things in your Drawings?

 Aren't you jealous of those Artists that just seem to draw things so quickly?  I sure was. 

 I hated using grid lines but I really struggled with getting the proportions right.  

California Poppies - Sketchbook Practise

I worked on my drawing skills at home.  Practicing everything the books said but things did not always work out.  In those days I worked from small photographs and so I was making my picture larger than the reference.  I tried grid lines once.  I must admit they turned out not too bad but erasing all those lines was a awful job.  The surface of my paper was in terrible shape for blending with my pencils.  I guess it is ok for painting but with pencil, not so good.  After lots of drawing practice, I found out what the secret was.  . . .

Getting the Proportions right in your Drawing is really all about TRAINING YOUR EYE, brain and hand to work together. 

This little California Poppy has a great upside down cone shape for its starting point

Let me show you some of things I learned as I draw this Poppy. 
***Special Note: There is a video version of this blog on my Youtube channel - Getting the Line Drawing Right and a FREE Downloadable Reference Picture of the Poppies so you can draw along with me.   

1. Gestural Lines:  Drawing a circle will help you place the flower on your page and set the size.  But now you need some solid direction.  

Strong lines can set the drawing up

2. Strong Lines: I look for strong lines within my subject to give me a starting point.  I can see that the outside shape of the poppy is like my salad bowl - angled sides with a base.  I use gestural lines to get that shape then go back and refined them.  It is important to have the angle right for the sides.  

3.  Tighten the rendering: For many things you can fix as you move through the drawing but getting your bowl shape correct is important at this point.  Once I am happy with the angles I look at the base of the bowl shape - how big should it be?  Comparing it with the left side of the bowl, I would say approx. 2.5 times the width of the bowl base gives me the length of the left side of the bowl.  The right side of the bowl is 'a bit more'.  Using this kind of vocabulary as you draw, makes you aware of the size of things.  Compare them to the parts that are already drawn.  

Use your Reference Points to add to the drawing

4.  First Petal: Now that you have your 'bowl' drawn everything relates to it.  The first petal is drawn using the site lines I have indicated above

Each petal builds from the last one

5.  Continue draw the petals: As you move away from the starting lines they are always providing guidance.  Use site lines to determine the placement and size of each new petal.  

Use Negative Space to Refine some lines

6.  Negative Space: As you move along you will find you need to refine a line or shape.  For the front petal the overlap can be easier to draw when you look at the negative shape (the overlap) rather than the positive shape of the petals.

  

Remember that starting shape was a strong line, not the exact shape

 7.  Editing the Starting Shape: When drawing the petal on the right it is time to go outside of the starting shape.  Remember the starting shape represented a strong line, but now it is time to tighten up the rending.  Part of it goes outside the line and part of it bends around the front petal.  

Adding stems, leaves and other flowers

8.  Adding other Elements: How big is the stem? the leaves? surrounding flowers?  These decisions are based on your first flower.  When you look at the stem of your reference picture, what is a similar size?  The Stem looks to be narrower than the overlap of the two petals above.  The leaves can now be drawn basing its size on the width of the stem.  The second flower will be smaller if behind the first or larger if in front.  Start with your initial circle and shape to set up the story you want to tell.  The further back the second flower is the smaller it will be and vice versa for being in front. 

 

Adding Some shadows to bring it to life 

9. Add Values and Colour:  You can leave your drawing as a line drawing or add values and colour to it.  I like to play around so I did both.  

I have found having little conversations with myself as I draw has heighten my awareness of the relationship of each element in my drawing.  This in turn makes for a more accurate drawing, one with good proportion.  Working this way you can make your drawing bigger or smaller than your original reference and of course it really helps you draw from life.  

***Special Note: There is a video version of this blog on my Youtube channel - Getting the Line Drawing Right and a FREE Downloadable Reference Picture of the Poppies so you can draw along with me.   

Special News: 

Show and Classes coming this November to
Landmark Pop-UP Gallery, 15140 North Bluff Rd, White Rock.  

Show: Nov 3-28, Wednesday - Sunday, 11-5pm 
Reception: Nov. 10, 6:30-8:30

Classes: Thursday, November 24 - 10-12:30pm.   Drawing with Wendy - $50 each, max 5.  

Values, Light & Shadows Bring Your Subject to Life – Thursday, Nov 24   Are your Values, Lights and Shadows making your subject full and vibrant?  Join Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM as she breaths life into a flat, outline drawing.

 Beginners to Advanced Welcome.  Contact Wendy to Register 

 Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

Contact Me for:

1. Private Drawing Lesson: (3 Sessions 2.5 hr each $250)  North Langley, BC (Walnut Grove) 

Do you want your animals to breath, your flowers to sparkle or your people to walk?  Whatever subject your like to paint or draw I can build a drawing program for you.  Private Lessons allow you to focus on the skills you wish to develop.  Wendy is a experienced teacher, providing a calm, relaxing experience as you learn how to use the principles of drawing.  Beginner to Advanced are welcome.  Special rates for younger students.  Contact Wendy for More info

2.  Online: Teaching, Mentoring or Critiquing Your Work - Don't live in the Fraser Valley,  I would be happy to tailor a program just for you online.  Drawing and Painting Lessons, Mentoring you on your Art Journey or Critiquing Your Work with an Eye to Move It Forward.  Drawing & Painting Lessons: 2-30 sessions $75.  Mentoring or Critiquing 30 minutes sessions $25.  Flexible schedule and sessions can be longer or shorter depending on your goals. 

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Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy