I love shading the back of my reference photo with a B grade pencil, then place it on my paper, and then color in the key points so I can connect them later! It has helped me improve so so so so much!!! Then I print another reference photo, or use the same one but erase the dots :D (or if you are using a good quality photo, photo copy it and make a copy to make the points on :D)
Kirsty Partridge Art I use a lightbox but my art teatcher learned use how to do it freehand but I forgot how to use it becuse our teatcher was sick for a long time. But I am trying to get back that freehand skill
Yeah sometimes it is very depressing when you can't draw the same lines as in the reference photo (especially when the reference photo is on the phone with a small size and you want to draw on a paper ).. i feel it's kind of art block when your mind can't recieve and your hand cannot move properly .. it makes me lazy and depressed 4 days passed and did not draw anything
Oh my gosh I totally struggle with drawing accurate sketches! What has helped me though is obviously using references and realizing that nobody has the same generic facial features. I could never figure out why my drawings never looked like the person I was drawing, but then I realized that when you combine a person's individual features (eye shape, nose shape, eyebrow placement, etc.) with their head shape, and body shape if you're drawing the whole body, that's what makes the drawing look like the person physically. Also, I'm not sure if anyone else struggles with this, but I need to pay special attention to bone structure. Making a person's cheekbones too high makes their face the wrong shape, and incorrect shading only makes it way worse.
I've been a silent reader. I followed all your advice and learned so much in less than a month that when I tried to make the realistic drawing I myself could not believe on how much I improved. So much that I earned my first commission work when a coworker saw what I did. Much love!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge to us.
Oh my, I thought I was the only one who use dots as the key points for drawings. I'm 64 and have been doing this all my life and its so awesome to see you do the exact same thing. I could never use a grid, but i do free hand a lot. But I need those dots that I figured out many years ago. Just like those dot to dot drawing books for children. I make my own dots.
Dear Kirsty Partridge, Oh my gosh, this is the very best instruction I have ever received on learning how to draw! I'm so thankful to you for making this lesson video for us! I'm "older", haha 50, and I've recently realized that I want so badly to learn to draw. When I was a wee little girl, by the age of 5, I knew I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. Then somehow, I wasn't really exposed to very much art at all. At the age of 10, my schoolmates and I were given an art project. It was to draw something with pencil, and then use watercolors. I remember being so excited! But, I had no experience and I drew a very simple house with a door and a couple windows, a tree, and some grass and flowers. Maybe the same thing I would have drawn when I was 5 years old. There was a boy that drew a lovely underwater scene with sand and fish. I was admiring his picture when he looked at mine and told me it was so ugly, and that I would never be an artist. I honestly believe that affected me until just recently. I remember being so embarrassed, and I think I avoided "art" in general the rest of my school years. So, I never learned to draw, or paint, or anything. Yeah, I'm super sensitive, which can be good, but in this case, not good at all. Now, I'm so glad I'm trying to learn. I'm collecting supplies as I am able. And I feel so fortunate, that even with all the bad things going on in the world... We are living in a time when at least some art supplies are easily accessible for most, and especially for videos like yours
Thank you Kirsty, this was really helpful. I was using grid lines in the past, the sketch was pretty accurate, but it was taking too much time. I tried to free hand, but as you have said, drawing a portrait can be very overwhelming, that's why I think it's better to be patient and look at the portrait as you would look at some shapes and try to replicate them, instead of paying attention to every tiny detail and overthinking about it.
When doing portraits for commissions I usually use the grid method but I just found out last month that I can free hand, its simple, just turn your reference upsidedown and then just start drawing what you see. I used this for a couple months and it also improved my free hand skils without using any methods.
I am alittle freaked out 😂 I do portraits every now and then but they are free hand and Yesterday I was looking for a why to do the sketches better cause I wanna try and use color pencil but I couldnt find anything. Now today, There is suddenly a video of what I was looking for 😂😂😂 Crazy
Thank you! I’m 30 and trying to get back into art. I had been using the grid method and rendered some nice drawings, but feel it’s a bit of a crutch and slowing progress down. This is pretty brilliant.
just wanted to let you know that you are helped me so much to getting better! Each video of yours help me improve my drawing!! You are the best artist that I know! and you are just my favorite artist and TH-camd and I just wanted to let you know it💓
Wonderful video!! Getting an accurate sketch is something I really struggle with and these tips seem super helpful and I can't wait to try this! Thank you, Kirsty!😀🎉💕
I'd forgotten about this technique! Thank you for this video. I like the grid method but erasing the grid lines after makes me nuts. I recently took your portrait class and just want to let everyone know it was worth every cent and the best thing I've ever done for my colored pencil skills. I highly recommend it!
Fibercrazed, you could use a lighter pencil on your drawing paper for the grid. The lighter the mark, the better you can shade over it. Then you can erase the exposed grid lines and it looks like you completely free handed the sketch.
Yeah I don’t like the grid method for that reason as well! Awww I’m glad you liked the portrait class, I hope it helps you improve. Thank so much for the support 😊
I use the grid method too, but I do my initial sketch with the grid on a piece of sketch paper and then transfer it to whatever paper I'm actually drawing on. That way you don't have to erase lines and you also have the sketch still in case you need it again.
Hello Kirsty, Thank you all your lessons and teaching. The way you teach is really very simple to understand most important think which I observed is you are very transparent in your lessons.. whatever you know you completely transferred to learners.. Thanks a lot..
I use the grid method. Gives me the best accurate drawing possible, but still takes a long time for me to do. First I do a grid on the reference photo, then another grid on sketch paper using the same measurements. After the drawing is done I use tracing paper to copy the drawing and then use a lightbox to lightly sketch on a blank Bristol Vellum paper. It saves time and don't have to erase grid lines, but it still takes a while and a whole lot of patience. This is the method I used for years and still do, but I'm willing to try the "dot-to-dot" method if it cuts time even more, especially when I suffer from carpal thumb and need to take frequent breaks to rest my hands.
Gotta applaud your explanations.My art teacher in school would tell us what to do but never show or explain much..she would just expect us to get on with it ourselves.Needless to say I didn't get an A. .All your videos are wonderful
Thank you so much for this!! It will definitely help me out with proportions. This is a great idea. I learned the grid technique when I was a kid and I'm actually not too bad at it, but I hate dealing with so many of the lines, as well as, it's a bit time consuming... to me anyway. This is something a bit different that I cannot wait to try. I think it will definitely help me!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Here is another tip guys: Shade the back of your reference photo with a B grade pencil, then place the photo on the drawing paper, and put key points on the reference photo, and the points you made should transfer on the paper, so you can connect them later :D but you may wanna get a new reference photo since the graphite can rub off on other places :D This is my own way so its great and you may all wanna try it it helped me so much!
AshNicFeld if you take a blank sheet of paper and fill one side of that paper with graphite, you can place it between your photo and the paper (with the graphite down obviously) and 'trace' the reference points. You can reuse this home made graphite paper easily and you won't have to print out another reference photo.
The "think where the dot should go and measure" is a really good technique to improve intuition I think. I'm going to keep trying till I don't suck haha.
Top Tips and a lot quicker: 1. Get your reference photo, put it into Illustrator or Photoshop and put a grid on it. Print it out, then draw the grid on your paper. 10 minutes tops. 2. Draw a grid in black fineliner pen on some A4 paper, get some acetate/clear film, pop it into the printer, make a photocopy of it and it'll print onto the clear film/acetate. Place the grid onto your reference picture and stick it in place with masking tape. To make the grid easier to read, place a piece of masking tape from the top to bottom on the left hand side of the acetate and then across the top of the acetate. This is the part where you can make the grid reusable - it'll last for years. For example, an A4 grid of (210x 297mm) with 10cm squares would be - 1-21 marked down the left side in each box. For the top piece - write on the masking tape in each square - A-T. After that, do the same on your grid you have drawn on the paper. For example, if the pupil of the eye is in 10/C - go to your paper and start drawing in 10/C. These grids can be scaled up or down to suit your preference. I have had the same grids I made over 10 years ago and have made loads of different sizes. Hope that helps
Thank you ALoT, this will definitely help me. But the only way to make reference points for me is to print them out...so now I’m going to learn how to use a printer
Hi Kirsty, I just finish my Emma Watson portrait from your tutorial, just fabulouse, thank you so much, took me long time to finish but I learn so much , wush I could show you my finish work !!! is not as good as yours as is my first portrait ever !!! will continue with my next lesson
I usually change the size of the reference. To manage that without loosing the proportions I usually draw a cross in the middle of the picture. Then I measure the reference at major points in the picture along those lines and multiply the distance with the factor that I want to expand the drawing. With a portrait for example I would mark the chin, nose an hairline where they sit on the chosen vertikal line and on the horizontal line I mark ears, cheekbone etc. Then I have maybe 5-6 dots along the cross and I use those to get the proportions right. Otherwise its very difficult to double the size or draw 3x as big as the reference....
Hi, the points is a great idea...if the reference photo is too small, I multiply up, using a ruler to mesure in the features.. mostly in regards to portraits...but I`ve just started up drawing and painting again, so I`m slowly getting into it again. I`ve always had trouble with being accurate in my drawings..some of it has to do with patience, you have to take your time when drawing
This really helps me understand how to get an accurate sketch,I've been struggling for a long time with drawing from reference photos and this gave me the help I needed and made me inspired to draw today! I still need to work on sketching lightly though but even though I've been drawing almost all of my life whenever I tried drawing from reference, there was always something of about my drawing compared to the image I'm looking at(not saying that it looked bad but it never looked quite like the original image)like maybe the placement of an arm or a leg or a finger 😂.
In my opinion, I think I could use both Grid and Freehand technique. However as for me, as a beginner in Graphite and charcoal, I can't possibly draw without grids to get the exact drawing. Anyways, your tutorials and tips videos are a great help for my drawings. I'am into anime/cartoons and a visual artist. So most of the time, I used colored pencils as my medium on my artworks. Thanks Ms.Kristy! Your video is much appreciated!
Dear Kirsty! I am struggeling with drawing now since I started out, although I practiced!!! I have a tremor that also comes into play especially when I'm nervous or trying something new and it even gets worse if I am watched doing something like drawing! I finally totally gave up on drawing and that's a very sad thing, cause I have so many ideas that I even have to write them down! I got to the point where I accepted that I will never be able to draw and have to rely on royalty free websites like pixabay,print the image out and trace it on to my canvas. But there is an issue with that, too! There are very often times I just cannot find the right picture of the idea I have in mind. It is so different than what I have in mind, that it's quite frustrating to just be able to pick an image that I like and that's similar to what I have in mind. But with this tequnique you just showed us and what you said,that we only should think in shapes and not of the subject itself, is very helpful to me! It is so true that if I think about I'm drawing a face, while I'm trying to draw it for an example, it's scary, seems to be impossible for me to draw it and YES it is totally overwhelming to me! That is true for everything I ever tried to draw! But this method that you showed in this video,gave me hope again! I haven't heard about this method before, but I will give it a try! I have nothing to loose,right.? And I don't worry if I will need a whole lot of reference points,maybe more than others and if I will have to stick with them forever, if I am just able to draw better and better... Hopefully... Thank you Kirsty so much for this video and giving me hope again! Be blessed! Lots of Love from me, Manuela from Germany, to you,dear Kirsty!!!
I think you’re biggest problem is anxiety, as you mention tremors when you’re nervous or someone is watching? Maybe you can try meditation or relaxation technique to relax before you draw. It might help. Also keep in mind it’s just a drawing. You don’t have to draw a perfect piece every time. For every artist’s finished picture, there’s a 100 sketches in the trash. Once you put things in perspective, drawing won’t be so stressful. ;)
This is a good tip. I enjoy the drawing process the most that's why I don't enjoy tracing. This will be helpful for subjects that I'll be drawing multiple times. 👌
Great tutorial....a little further ahead in the picture making cycle, are The three T's.....in order....trace, tone, texture. These work in both hand drawn artwork and in digitally generated illustrations
This is very good for the cases where you have a physical picture reference... I try to do it from pictures I found with my phone so is not really helpful for me at the moment LOL but is a great idea and I will surely use it when I have the opportunity!
I usually use the grid method.. it saves paper (so i don't have to print the reference photo) but your method is awesome.. I'll try it out and see how it goes *-* thanks!
I watch your videos all the time, and somehow missed this one. I'm a gridder. This is really intriguing, and I definitely want to give it a go! Reminds me of connect the dots. But knowing me I'll get confused. haha
A local university art professor told me that he just traces the outline of every portrait he does, whether by projector or light table or computer monitor. He says it just takes too much time to use any other method. But I can see how that could create a handicap, if a person relies on it too much so, it's great to know these other methods.
I get most of the references in small devices, so it's important to learn how to be accurate in drawing from a reference which is different from the size of your drawing BTW, Amazing video as always Kirsty, I learn a lot from you, thank you 💕
Reference point copy. Maybe make dots with black paint, press your other paper on it. The paint will be on your new page. Now turn your new page back and the dots are visible though this paper. Perfect and quick.
Thank you a lot for this video! I am a big fan of yours and I learn how to draw from you, from your advice. It was cer helpful. You inspire me to draw! 🙏
Thank you very much for sharing your incredible Tips Kirsty I love drawing so much , and your channel too ... i usually drawing using Grid , it's really helpful and make artwork realistic looks , my teacher at the school suggested me drawing everyday , look at the reference photo , be patient same with your technique ...
A very old but relatively accurate method, and one you have all probably used previously without realising as a child as it’s been used in dot-to-dot books for decades. Another way is to spot reference the negative space. Both are better than the grid IMHO, much less erasing 🙂
Yeah I always have found grids a bit too overwhelming to use and so I made this alternative method which I have found a lot easier to work with. It’s worth trying, you might like it or you might prefer the grid method but it’s always great to experiment with new techniques 😊💕
Very helpfull. I sometimes toss away up to 5 tries before im happy with the outl8ne of a free hand sketch and the gridline teq does not work with me at all. I love your videos. Thank you very much
You're very talented! Thank you for sharing your precious advice to people who want to improve their art! God bless you and keep up the *FANTASTIC* work! *~Flex*
Your tips are great.. I already did realistic sketch within 1 month of watching your video! Thank you.. I was wondering if you could do a video on how to draw nerves.. It's very challenging and I need your guidance.
QOTD: Do you struggle drawing accurate sketches and what tip/technique has helped you improve your sketches the most?
I love shading the back of my reference photo with a B grade pencil, then place it on my paper, and then color in the key points so I can connect them later! It has helped me improve so so so so much!!! Then I print another reference photo, or use the same one but erase the dots :D (or if you are using a good quality photo, photo copy it and make a copy to make the points on :D)
Kirsty Partridge Art I use a lightbox but my art teatcher learned use how to do it freehand but I forgot how to use it becuse our teatcher was sick for a long time. But I am trying to get back that freehand skill
Yeah sometimes it is very depressing when you can't draw the same lines as in the reference photo (especially when the reference photo is on the phone with a small size and you want to draw on a paper ).. i feel it's kind of art block when your mind can't recieve and your hand cannot move properly .. it makes me lazy and depressed 4 days passed and did not draw anything
Kirsty Partridge Art hey I’m watching this to draw a black panther commission 🤦🏽♂️it’s hard.
Oh my gosh I totally struggle with drawing accurate sketches! What has helped me though is obviously using references and realizing that nobody has the same generic facial features. I could never figure out why my drawings never looked like the person I was drawing, but then I realized that when you combine a person's individual features (eye shape, nose shape, eyebrow placement, etc.) with their head shape, and body shape if you're drawing the whole body, that's what makes the drawing look like the person physically. Also, I'm not sure if anyone else struggles with this, but I need to pay special attention to bone structure. Making a person's cheekbones too high makes their face the wrong shape, and incorrect shading only makes it way worse.
I've been a silent reader. I followed all your advice and learned so much in less than a month that when I tried to make the realistic drawing I myself could not believe on how much I improved. So much that I earned my first commission work when a coworker saw what I did.
Much love!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge to us.
That is so amazing! Well done 😊 I am really happy my videos have helped you improve 💕
Do you have social media I would love to see ur work!
But what if we don't have any reference picture.. I mean I usually draw from phone
Yah I wanna know that too..
Maybe print it off 😂
Same.
Its called scale
😁same method
Oh my, I thought I was the only one who use dots as the key points for drawings. I'm 64 and have been doing this all my life and its so awesome to see you do the exact same thing. I could never use a grid, but i do free hand a lot. But I need those dots that I figured out many years ago. Just like those dot to dot drawing books for children. I make my own dots.
Do you work in soft pastel
That dot system lends itself to facial recognition tech....very powerful
Why arnt there more good people like u in this world who help people with art..Why God? Btw thanks for the video and ur the best
Awww thank you that’s so kind! 😊
?
@Mallantha Caflorin cus he can
Dear Kirsty Partridge, Oh my gosh, this is the very best instruction I have ever received on learning how to draw! I'm so thankful to you for making this lesson video for us! I'm "older", haha 50, and I've recently realized that I want so badly to learn to draw. When I was a wee little girl, by the age of 5, I knew I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. Then somehow, I wasn't really exposed to very much art at all. At the age of 10, my schoolmates and I were given an art project. It was to draw something with pencil, and then use watercolors. I remember being so excited! But, I had no experience and I drew a very simple house with a door and a couple windows, a tree, and some grass and flowers. Maybe the same thing I would have drawn when I was 5 years old.
There was a boy that drew a lovely underwater scene with sand and fish. I was admiring his picture when he looked at mine and told me it was so ugly, and that I would never be an artist. I honestly believe that affected me until just recently. I remember being so embarrassed, and I think I avoided "art" in general the rest of my school years. So, I never learned to draw, or paint, or anything. Yeah, I'm super sensitive, which can be good, but in this case, not good at all.
Now, I'm so glad I'm trying to learn. I'm collecting supplies as I am able. And I feel so fortunate, that even with all the bad things going on in the world... We are living in a time when at least some art supplies are easily accessible for most, and especially for videos like yours
This is so sweet! Good luck on your art journey and I hope you're having a fantastic day!
@@divinefantasy woah what a username
Crackhead Culture haha thanks! I like yours too!
Any updates for us?
My daughter in-law, is crazy about owls, I was thinking of drawing and framing as a present. Thanks Kirsty for making it easier for me!😁👍
Omg I’ve been waiting forever for a porportion video
ah yes *porportion*
@@clueless3045 please- 😭
Thank you Kirsty, this was really helpful. I was using grid lines in the past, the sketch was pretty accurate, but it was taking too much time. I tried to free hand, but as you have said, drawing a portrait can be very overwhelming, that's why I think it's better to be patient and look at the portrait as you would look at some shapes and try to replicate them, instead of paying attention to every tiny detail and overthinking about it.
When doing portraits for commissions I usually use the grid method but I just found out last month that I can free hand, its simple, just turn your reference upsidedown and then just start drawing what you see. I used this for a couple months and it also improved my free hand skils without using any methods.
I was drawing a picture of Emma Watson...and struggled with getting the facial features right...this helped me alot!! Thanks Kirsty!!
You should become an art teacher! You doing really well by teaching people online, imagine how you will do if you teach people irl
Thank you SO MUCH Kristy for sharing this technique!
I am alittle freaked out 😂 I do portraits every now and then but they are free hand and Yesterday I was looking for a why to do the sketches better cause I wanna try and use color pencil but I couldnt find anything. Now today, There is suddenly a video of what I was looking for 😂😂😂 Crazy
Ahaha what a coincidence 😂💕
I know right lol. I do wanna ask with small journals or larger ones is there anyway to convent a smaller image onto a large piece of paper?
Whatever's Art Microsoft word?
Thank you! I’m 30 and trying to get back into art. I had been using the grid method and rendered some nice drawings, but feel it’s a bit of a crutch and slowing progress down. This is pretty brilliant.
just wanted to let you know that you are helped me so much to getting better! Each video of yours help me improve my drawing!! You are the best artist that I know! and you are just my favorite artist and TH-camd and I just wanted to let you know it💓
That is amazing to hear that the videos have helped you so much! Also thanks so much for the kind words, your so sweet 💕
Wonderful video!! Getting an accurate sketch is something I really struggle with and these tips seem super helpful and I can't wait to try this! Thank you, Kirsty!😀🎉💕
I'm taking art for A-level next year, and these videos help me alot, especially the proportion and coloured pencil ones. Thank you so much Kirsty :)
I'd forgotten about this technique! Thank you for this video. I like the grid method but erasing the grid lines after makes me nuts. I recently took your portrait class and just want to let everyone know it was worth every cent and the best thing I've ever done for my colored pencil skills. I highly recommend it!
Fibercrazed, you could use a lighter pencil on your drawing paper for the grid. The lighter the mark, the better you can shade over it. Then you can erase the exposed grid lines and it looks like you completely free handed the sketch.
Yeah I don’t like the grid method for that reason as well! Awww I’m glad you liked the portrait class, I hope it helps you improve. Thank so much for the support 😊
I use the grid method too, but I do my initial sketch with the grid on a piece of sketch paper and then transfer it to whatever paper I'm actually drawing on. That way you don't have to erase lines and you also have the sketch still in case you need it again.
Interesting techmique. I've just tried it and you're right; much easier than using the grid system. Subscribed! Thznks, Kirsty.
I've always looked at videos on youtube to help improve my art but i never really get any from the other than your videos. So thank you
Hello Kirsty, Thank you all your lessons and teaching. The way you teach is really very simple to understand most important think which I observed is you are very transparent in your lessons.. whatever you know you completely transferred to learners.. Thanks a lot..
I use the grid method. Gives me the best accurate drawing possible, but still takes a long time for me to do. First I do a grid on the reference photo, then another grid on sketch paper using the same measurements. After the drawing is done I use tracing paper to copy the drawing and then use a lightbox to lightly sketch on a blank Bristol Vellum paper. It saves time and don't have to erase grid lines, but it still takes a while and a whole lot of patience. This is the method I used for years and still do, but I'm willing to try the "dot-to-dot" method if it cuts time even more, especially when I suffer from carpal thumb and need to take frequent breaks to rest my hands.
Gotta applaud your explanations.My art teacher in school would tell us what to do but never show or explain much..she would just expect us to get on with it ourselves.Needless to say I didn't get an A. .All your videos are wonderful
Art teachers are seriously overrated
Thank you so much for this!! It will definitely help me out with proportions. This is a great idea. I learned the grid technique when I was a kid and I'm actually not too bad at it, but I hate dealing with so many of the lines, as well as, it's a bit time consuming... to me anyway. This is something a bit different that I cannot wait to try. I think it will definitely help me!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Here is another tip guys: Shade the back of your reference photo with a B grade pencil, then place the photo on the drawing paper, and put key points on the reference photo, and the points you made should transfer on the paper, so you can connect them later :D but you may wanna get a new reference photo since the graphite can rub off on other places :D This is my own way so its great and you may all wanna try it it helped me so much!
This is a great tip and would definitely save time 😊💕
AshNicFeld if you take a blank sheet of paper and fill one side of that paper with graphite, you can place it between your photo and the paper (with the graphite down obviously) and 'trace' the reference points. You can reuse this home made graphite paper easily and you won't have to print out another reference photo.
Using a light box or transfer paper would also be a bit less messy, but good idea nonetheless.
I love that idea! Im gonna try it to save my reference photo :D
this is what my teacher taught me
I came across your channel yesterday and I'm loving every artwork of yours😭 and your eyes are so beautiful 😭❤️
The "think where the dot should go and measure" is a really good technique to improve intuition I think. I'm going to keep trying till I don't suck haha.
Thanks for the advice. I will definitely use this method once my prismacolors come.
Kirsty, you really are a goddess at teaching
This is very helpful to get a good sketch! Thanks Kirsty, my favoutrite youtuber as always!
Kristy I’ve just discovered you and so thrilled that I have already picked up some wonderful helpful tips. Thank you!!!
Top Tips and a lot quicker:
1. Get your reference photo, put it into Illustrator or Photoshop and put a grid on it. Print it out, then draw the grid on your paper. 10 minutes tops.
2. Draw a grid in black fineliner pen on some A4 paper, get some acetate/clear film, pop it into the printer, make a photocopy of it and it'll print onto the clear film/acetate. Place the grid onto your reference picture and stick it in place with masking tape.
To make the grid easier to read, place a piece of masking tape from the top to bottom on the left hand side of the acetate and then across the top of the acetate.
This is the part where you can make the grid reusable - it'll last for years.
For example, an A4 grid of (210x 297mm) with 10cm squares would be - 1-21 marked down the left side in each box.
For the top piece - write on the masking tape in each square - A-T.
After that, do the same on your grid you have drawn on the paper.
For example, if the pupil of the eye is in 10/C - go to your paper and start drawing in 10/C.
These grids can be scaled up or down to suit your preference. I have had the same grids I made over 10 years ago and have made loads of different sizes.
Hope that helps
How about just draw it freehand? Much easier for some of us...
your art very beautiful
Thank you ALoT, this will definitely help me. But the only way to make reference points for me is to print them out...so now I’m going to learn how to use a printer
that you for this technique my strong skill at drawing is sketching but sometimes i cant get an accurate image this helped me a lot thank you
Hi Kirsty, I just finish my Emma Watson portrait from your tutorial, just fabulouse, thank you so much, took me long time to finish but I learn so much , wush I could show you my finish work !!! is not as good as yours as is my first portrait ever !!! will continue with my next lesson
this has got to be one of the best tips/techniques I have come across! thank you
This is the best solution that I've ever seen... Thank You Very Much Beautiful 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
This is a great video and it was very helpful but what would you do if you can’t get a reference photo the same size as your paper?
I usually change the size of the reference. To manage that without loosing the proportions I usually draw a cross in the middle of the picture. Then I measure the reference at major points in the picture along those lines and multiply the distance with the factor that I want to expand the drawing. With a portrait for example I would mark the chin, nose an hairline where they sit on the chosen vertikal line and on the horizontal line I mark ears, cheekbone etc. Then I have maybe 5-6 dots along the cross and I use those to get the proportions right. Otherwise its very difficult to double the size or draw 3x as big as the reference....
Finally! Ive been needing this 🙏🙏 thanks a tonne Kirsty
My pleasure 😊
Your art is amazing!
Grownup "connect the dots"! I love it!
Damn, that dot method rather than a grid or anything along those lines is really smart. Never would've thought of that. Great video!! 😄✏️
Ahaha thanks! I’m really happy you enjoyed the video 😃
Hi, the points is a great idea...if the reference photo is too small, I multiply up, using a ruler to mesure in the features.. mostly in regards to portraits...but I`ve just started up drawing and painting again, so I`m slowly getting into it again. I`ve always had trouble with being accurate in my drawings..some of it has to do with patience, you have to take your time when drawing
This really helps me understand how to get an accurate sketch,I've been struggling for a long time with drawing from reference photos and this gave me the help I needed and made me inspired to draw today! I still need to work on sketching lightly though but even though I've been drawing almost all of my life whenever I tried drawing from reference, there was always something of about my drawing compared to the image I'm looking at(not saying that it looked bad but it never looked quite like the original image)like maybe the placement of an arm or a leg or a finger 😂.
In my opinion, I think I could use both Grid and Freehand technique.
However as for me, as a beginner in Graphite and charcoal, I can't possibly draw without grids to get the exact drawing.
Anyways, your tutorials and tips videos are a great help for my drawings. I'am into anime/cartoons and a visual artist. So most of the time, I used colored pencils as my medium on my artworks.
Thanks Ms.Kristy! Your video is much appreciated!
Dear Kirsty! I am struggeling with drawing now since I started out, although I practiced!!! I have a tremor that also comes into play especially when I'm nervous or trying something new and it even gets worse if I am watched doing something like drawing! I finally totally gave up on drawing and that's a very sad thing, cause I have so many ideas that I even have to write them down! I got to the point where I accepted that I will never be able to draw and have to rely on royalty free websites like pixabay,print the image out and trace it on to my canvas. But there is an issue with that, too! There are very often times I just cannot find the right picture of the idea I have in mind. It is so different than what I have in mind, that it's quite frustrating to just be able to pick an image that I like and that's similar to what I have in mind. But with this tequnique you just showed us and what you said,that we only should think in shapes and not of the subject itself, is very helpful to me! It is so true that if I think about I'm drawing a face, while I'm trying to draw it for an example, it's scary, seems to be impossible for me to draw it and YES it is totally overwhelming to me! That is true for everything I ever tried to draw! But this method that you showed in this video,gave me hope again! I haven't heard about this method before, but I will give it a try! I have nothing to loose,right.? And I don't worry if I will need a whole lot of reference points,maybe more than others and if I will have to stick with them forever, if I am just able to draw better and better... Hopefully... Thank you Kirsty so much for this video and giving me hope again! Be blessed! Lots of Love from me, Manuela from Germany, to you,dear Kirsty!!!
I think you’re biggest problem is anxiety, as you mention tremors when you’re nervous or someone is watching? Maybe you can try meditation or relaxation technique to relax before you draw. It might help. Also keep in mind it’s just a drawing. You don’t have to draw a perfect piece every time. For every artist’s finished picture, there’s a 100 sketches in the trash. Once you put things in perspective, drawing won’t be so stressful. ;)
This is a good tip. I enjoy the drawing process the most that's why I don't enjoy tracing. This will be helpful for subjects that I'll be drawing multiple times. 👌
This technique is simple but with Kirsty become professional
Very useful and nicely broken down
Yes I have waited for this video!!
You have talent in pencil drawing and colour pencil painting and colours you are awesome artist have a new subscriber
You can also use a proportional divider to change the scale; larger or smaller, or the same as the original.
Great tutorial....a little further ahead in the picture making cycle, are The three T's.....in order....trace, tone, texture. These work in both hand drawn artwork and in digitally generated illustrations
This is very good for the cases where you have a physical picture reference... I try to do it from pictures I found with my phone so is not really helpful for me at the moment LOL but is a great idea and I will surely use it when I have the opportunity!
This is the best, thank you so much for sharing this technique! Its so simple but produces great results and I can't wait to use it for my drawings!
Thanks a lot kirsty we want a video about pointallism
I've been searching for something like this for ages! Thanks😄
I usually use the grid method.. it saves paper (so i don't have to print the reference photo) but your method is awesome.. I'll try it out and see how it goes *-* thanks!
wow that's so smart!!! really helps improving because one thing I'm not really good at is getting an accurate sketch😬 Thanks Kirsty💞
That’s some really nice work Kirsty 👍
That's awesome I used the grid system and it's hard to erase afterwards. Thanks for showing.
Thanks , I've never seen this technique before but I will definitely use it on my next drawing
I watch your videos all the time, and somehow missed this one. I'm a gridder. This is really intriguing, and I definitely want to give it a go! Reminds me of connect the dots. But knowing me I'll get confused. haha
I have never seen using points as reference. Fantastic idea! Thanks.
Thank you for this helpful video! Normally I make a grid but this is also a good alternative.
I currently use the grid method and find that works well for me but this is an interesting alterative to that. Definitely going to try it out!
Loved this video. These were great tips Kirsty.
Great technique! Awesome share! Cheers!
Loved dots technique👍🏻
Where is the website in the description?
A local university art professor told me that he just traces the outline of every portrait he does, whether by projector or light table or computer monitor. He says it just takes too much time to use any other method. But I can see how that could create a handicap, if a person relies on it too much so, it's great to know these other methods.
I get most of the references in small devices, so it's important to learn how to be accurate in drawing from a reference which is different from the size of your drawing
BTW, Amazing video as always Kirsty, I learn a lot from you, thank you 💕
Proportions have always been a issue for me thanks for this tip it will really help.
Reference point copy. Maybe make dots with black paint, press your other paper on it. The paint will be on your new page. Now turn your new page back and the dots are visible though this paper. Perfect and quick.
You could use vellum ,trace it , heavy pencil over it , then draw over it .it will transfer the image , I find that very easy.
Nice tecnique ! I love it!
Thank you a lot for this video! I am a big fan of yours and I learn how to draw from you, from your advice. It was cer helpful. You inspire me to draw! 🙏
Wow! This is a much better method than the grid method. It's less messy too.
Cool technique with the points. Ill try that, thanks
Thank you very much for sharing your incredible Tips Kirsty
I love drawing so much , and your channel too ... i usually drawing using Grid , it's really helpful and make artwork realistic looks , my teacher at the school suggested me drawing everyday , look at the reference photo , be patient same with your technique ...
Once again, HELPFUL N AMAZING
That’s great to hear 😊
A very old but relatively accurate method, and one you have all probably used previously without realising as a child as it’s been used in dot-to-dot books for decades. Another way is to spot reference the negative space. Both are better than the grid IMHO, much less erasing 🙂
OMG I needed this today! Thank you!
How foolish I am!! I always drew using the grid method but now I will draw like this point method. Thank you Kirsty for uploading such useful video.
Nice idea. I've always used grids but it's nice to see alternatives.
Yeah I always have found grids a bit too overwhelming to use and so I made this alternative method which I have found a lot easier to work with. It’s worth trying, you might like it or you might prefer the grid method but it’s always great to experiment with new techniques 😊💕
Definitely will try this technique!!!!!!
Very helpfull. I sometimes toss away up to 5 tries before im happy with the outl8ne of a free hand sketch and the gridline teq does not work with me at all. I love your videos. Thank you very much
Thank you sooo much for your beginner tips. It encourages me to draw
I recently started to use this technique as well
You're very talented! Thank you for sharing your precious advice to people who want to improve their art! God bless you and keep up the *FANTASTIC* work! *~Flex*
Loved this video! Thank you for sharing I can't wait to try this method out for myself.
GOD BLESS YOU FOR UPLOADING THIS!! i've needed this for so long !!
Aww my pleasure, hope it helps 😊
Kristy, thank you very much. Yours tips are great 👍
I used this tequnique in art class and everyone wondered how i did it. Thanks!
Thankyou❤️
Your tips are great.. I already did realistic sketch within 1 month of watching your video! Thank you.. I was wondering if you could do a video on how to draw nerves.. It's very challenging and I need your guidance.
I love you! You always help with drawing skills!!