These proportional dividers are great tools. From experience, I have found that although these brass ones are very nice and have a better sliding scale, they can move in use. What I do if not using an engraved scale mark as you did in this is to scratch a fine line or use a fine pen so that every now and again you can close them and check they are on the same scale mark. The plastic ones do not have these issues as they are set holes and cannot move in use. However, sometimes you might need a position somewhere between the holes which you cannot do so the brass ones come out much better. The brass and plastic ones, like you showed in a photo, do have good fine points which makes accurate measurements easier. Sadly, because I love Derwent as a brand, I cannot recommend their wooden ones as the points are so thick it makes accuracy very difficult. Some will say that making all these measurements is a bit over the top but I disagree for a few reasons. The first time I used proportional dividers was on a portrait. My drawing skills are not great but by using these dividers with just the horizontal and vertical datum lines and the resulting outline, eye, nose and mouth positions turned out very accurately and the portrait is still the best pencil portrait I have ever achieved. Tracing will give you the accuracy but I found as I was plotting the points from the datum lines, I was actually gauging them more accurately as I went on which means I was learning to eyeball points something that tracing will never allow you to develop. Subsequently, I have found that I now need less drum points before I can start ‘joining the dots’ freehand so I am improving my drawing skills using dividers which would never happen by tracing. With regard to accuracy, people should not get over obsessed. I find plotting less points and more freehand makes a more ‘arty’ drawing rather than a technical drawing which I believe most people watching your channel would want. But these tools can genuinely help develop drawing skills and you will, as I have, find less dots more freehand eventually. They are a tool to get the proportions and scale right and for that they are amazing.
Hi Graham, you are very correct in saying that using this fantastically useful tool does indeed make you a better draughtsman as it teaches you eye to hand coordination and you begin to judge measurements by eye alone much better. I have to turn the wheel quite tightly on my divider to stop it moving as you do rightly pointed out which is why you can see me struggling a bit in at certain points, it's all good fun at the end of the day 😀
@@stephencard6808 you could but we are not drawing an architectural precise structure, it's an old building, in my opinion you want some character and not to make it look sterile especially in a simple video demo. If you were doing a commission then it's a different situation.
Gridding doesn’t have to be the same size. The grid can be twice the size on the paper, for example. There is also an alternative gridding system; lines through both diagonals, plus horizontal midpoint and vertical midpoint. Then use your dividers to measure.
Have you checked the accuracy of the scales on the divider? I have the same one and find and it’s way off. Ok if you don’t need a precise proportion, but useless for architectural or construction planning.
HI Danlee, no I haven't checked as I don't need to be super accurate. If I was commissioned to paint an architectural piece then it would be at least half imperial in size, way to large for the divider and I would use the grid method to draw. Pretty much all my watercolours are 1/4 imperial or smaller so if the image fits into this size of paper then I'm happy. I must say that using the dividers is still the quickest way to get something complicated onto paper, it's fun as well.
Very helpful video. Just a point, i have found the plastic proportional dividers are hopeless! They don't hold the position at all well. So I'm going to buy a decent quality brass set. What make are yours please?
Hi, I got them of Amazon, just put 'proportional dividers for artists' into the amazon search and you will find them £19.99 without box, £22.99 with box.
Hi, here it is. www.amazon.co.uk/Artist-Proportional-Divider-Drawing-Professional/dp/B09DPXKY67/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=32NX0N8HR96L0&keywords=proportional+dividers+for+artists&qid=1698794930&sprefix=Proportional%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-5
Hi, I'm glad you found the video helpful but as for the other uses, I can safely say that I don't have a clue as they are used for different applications, I've only ever used them for what I did in the video. 🙏
Thanks for the tutorial
You're most welcome 🙏🏻
These proportional dividers are great tools. From experience, I have found that although these brass ones are very nice and have a better sliding scale, they can move in use. What I do if not using an engraved scale mark as you did in this is to scratch a fine line or use a fine pen so that every now and again you can close them and check they are on the same scale mark.
The plastic ones do not have these issues as they are set holes and cannot move in use. However, sometimes you might need a position somewhere between the holes which you cannot do so the brass ones come out much better.
The brass and plastic ones, like you showed in a photo, do have good fine points which makes accurate measurements easier. Sadly, because I love Derwent as a brand, I cannot recommend their wooden ones as the points are so thick it makes accuracy very difficult.
Some will say that making all these measurements is a bit over the top but I disagree for a few reasons. The first time I used proportional dividers was on a portrait. My drawing skills are not great but by using these dividers with just the horizontal and vertical datum lines and the resulting outline, eye, nose and mouth positions turned out very accurately and the portrait is still the best pencil portrait I have ever achieved.
Tracing will give you the accuracy but I found as I was plotting the points from the datum lines, I was actually gauging them more accurately as I went on which means I was learning to eyeball points something that tracing will never allow you to develop.
Subsequently, I have found that I now need less drum points before I can start ‘joining the dots’ freehand so I am improving my drawing skills using dividers which would never happen by tracing.
With regard to accuracy, people should not get over obsessed. I find plotting less points and more freehand makes a more ‘arty’ drawing rather than a technical drawing which I believe most people watching your channel would want. But these tools can genuinely help develop drawing skills and you will, as I have, find less dots more freehand eventually. They are a tool to get the proportions and scale right and for that they are amazing.
Hi Graham, you are very correct in saying that using this fantastically useful tool does indeed make you a better draughtsman as it teaches you eye to hand coordination and you begin to judge measurements by eye alone much better. I have to turn the wheel quite tightly on my divider to stop it moving as you do rightly pointed out which is why you can see me struggling a bit in at certain points, it's all good fun at the end of the day 😀
Use you set square and rule to get the verticals and horizontal!!!!!!!
@@stephencard6808 you could but we are not drawing an architectural precise structure, it's an old building, in my opinion you want some character and not to make it look sterile especially in a simple video demo. If you were doing a commission then it's a different situation.
Very informative video. Clearly explained . Thank you . Jose from Australia
Thank you Jose, glad you found my inane ramblings of some use😁 🙏
Gridding doesn’t have to be the same size. The grid can be twice the size on the paper, for example. There is also an alternative gridding system; lines through both diagonals, plus horizontal midpoint and vertical midpoint. Then use your dividers to measure.
Great video, thank you
Thank you and very happy that you found it useful, once you get the hang of it you can draw anything 👍
Have you checked the accuracy of the scales on the divider? I have the same one and find and it’s way off. Ok if you don’t need a precise proportion, but useless for architectural or construction planning.
HI Danlee, no I haven't checked as I don't need to be super accurate. If I was commissioned to paint an architectural piece then it would be at least half imperial in size, way to large for the divider and I would use the grid method to draw. Pretty much all my watercolours are 1/4 imperial or smaller so if the image fits into this size of paper then I'm happy. I must say that using the dividers is still the quickest way to get something complicated onto paper, it's fun as well.
Very helpful video. Just a point, i have found the plastic proportional dividers are hopeless! They don't hold the position at all well. So I'm going to buy a decent quality brass set. What make are yours please?
Hi, I got them of Amazon, just put 'proportional dividers for artists' into the amazon search and you will find them £19.99 without box, £22.99 with box.
Thank you so much 😊
Received my 7 / 3/ 2023
Very Cool dude, it will transform your sketching ability and even complex subject matter will literally be a piece of cake. 👍
Where's the link for the deviders?
Hi, here it is.
www.amazon.co.uk/Artist-Proportional-Divider-Drawing-Professional/dp/B09DPXKY67/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=32NX0N8HR96L0&keywords=proportional+dividers+for+artists&qid=1698794930&sprefix=Proportional%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-5
😊 thank you i bought one of these used for drafting ✈️ 🛩 🛬. Now I know how it works. Can you demo the circle side??
Hi, I'm glad you found the video helpful but as for the other uses, I can safely say that I don't have a clue as they are used for different applications, I've only ever used them for what I did in the video. 🙏