I’m a retired illustrator and graphic artist. For well over 30 years, I did art to meet the needs of my clients, and I did very well. After retiring, I have struggled trying to get back to the joy I had as a kid doing art for fun. For me, it’s like starting over learning new skills. Your advice is definitely helpful. Sometimes you need someone to remind you of the basics and to try a different philosophy from time to time.
Thanks Loren, I worked in the printing industry (prepress) for many years. Taking up drawing again after years of mostly digital work was like a revelation for me. I wish you all the best with your drawings!
Jeff, I love to draw and have shifted my focus at different times from the figure, to faces, to buildings and environments, and landscapes sometimes. I have to say, that faces are very elusive and require the most time to regain facility. I can construct buildings and spaces, but to get a true likeness seems to be 80% frequent practice and 20% alchemy. Thanks for posting this; it’s quite inspiring to me.
Sage advice. As the Chinese say, there are many paths to the top of the mountain. As someone who's struggling in the foothills I always value the guidance given by those who are capable of the kind of quality portraits you post here.
As an old school Parsons student, I'm 56 now, I wish you could have been my teacher... what you said in this one video rang so true for me... THANK YOU SIR and a hello from Central Mexico...
5:11 is great advice. As a child I was discouraged from drawing because I was drawing from references that I really liked a lot, but friends and family simply saw it as "copying". I cannot stress this enough, a healthy practice from references are invaluable. Art professionals in the animation, and game industry are prime examples that working with references never stop being one of the many tools in your toolbelt. Furthermore, drawing from a reference, still life, and/or from Life will continuously build an artist's "visual library", thus giving you increasing familiarity and understand with shape, form, structure, proportionality, how light interacts with the subject, and three dimensionality.
I used the rule of 3 when I started drawing. Just draw anything 3 times for however long you have the time. Eventually your proportions get better, shading gets better and so on. Then one day you will nail it. I kinda see like learning how not to draw and then being an artist all of a sudden. Practice makes improvement
This is my first comment on UA-cam ever... but I saw your first videos two years ago... I copied every one of your pictures in charcoal... you draw people's souls. I learned that from you... when I draw I'm scared, but I learned from you how to capture the soul... I rarely show my pictures but when I do, people are amazed, thanks to you... thank you very much again
@@JeffHainesArt This is what stroke me first about this channel. My first time visiting but really loved how characteristic & soulful your drawings look. Thanks for sharing
I’m 50 years old now. I spent a lot of time in my youth drawing. I haven’t done much in the past 20years, but I’ve committed to an hour a day focusing on portraits. I appreciate the wealth of information freely shared. Thank you. I’m falling in love with drawing again.
I'm told that I am far too critical of my work. I don't fish for compliments. I just see what can be better with practice and when I get it right I am the first person to say that I love it.
This is the video I needed at this time of me doubting my art journey. Solid advice, not sugarcoating it, straight to the point and informative. Thank u so much for this. The part where u said that some people or artist take offense in u learning and drawing from reference is true. Most if not all veteran or professional artists would tell you to draw from reference and it's often times the amateurs or people who have no idea how drawing works and put it on to "talent" that says otherwise.
In all my years of doing art professionally, I have never once heard of another person or artist take "offense" from learning or drawing from reference. Sometimes you have to use reference IF you can't see and study the real thing in person (which is ALWAYS a far better choice to draw from (for your own learning and reference). Whenever I've had newbies ask me what the best way to learn to draw is, I ALWAYS suggest to draw from real things and during different times of the day so that you can see how the changing light affects objects. Of course, you can also practice drawing things with the aid of moving a light around an object to see how the form changes, or turn it. Drawing portraits in person is always an awesome learning experience, because you can view and study the shapes in their natural 3D state AND you are seeing the person or pet, etc. in stereo-vision. 😊 You see and learn much more because your two eyes each see from a slightly different angle, and your brain melds the image together. A photo image is a flattened 2D image, and because you loose making that natural 3D interpretation that your mind (and memory) creates for you, you miss out on accumulating that knowledge of the object that you can draw upon when creating future people, objects and more from your imagination. In some cases, photo reference just doesn't give enough info, or it's very limited. But like I said earlier, it is still useful if you can't see something in person. And of course, sometimes reference is just needed for basic info, proportions or details. "All's well that ends well."
@@pat4005 Thanks for the great advice! I've been slowly cultivating a habit of drawing when I'm outside or drawing from life. I was always shy on drawing outside cause I don't want people to look at my work while I draw but I'm slowly getting out of my comfort zone. And ur lucky to have not encountered people who take offense looking at reference. Growing up in my preteen years back in the day in the early 2014 onward when I first started doing art, People have this bias that artists have this innate "talent," that it's something you're born with rather than something you train for. I think it goes to the fact that people around me have no knowledge or background on how drawing or painting works and chalk it up to, your either good at it from the get go or not. I was one of the few people in my school that took interest in art and drawing and when my schoolmates would look at my art they'd compliment me for how "talented" I am and they wished they could do that too. When I told them they could and they should just practice, they always say "Oh I'm not good at drawing" and that they're not as "talented" as me or they would try drawing for a week and then give up because they see no "progress" Like no shit, you just started. It's like going to a gym in a month and being disappointed ur not as ripped as a greek sculpture. When I show them my process in drawing by using reference their opinion of me changes like suddenly "Oh ur not as good as I thought" because of the belief that "real" artists draw from memory. I think in general social media ruined the average person's view on how an artist should work. It creates an illusion that artists should always be good at the get go because artists on instagram and twitter hardly ever posts their "bad" art or art when they first started. I'm glad that it's changing though, like people are starting to realize art is like a sport or any type of skill-based hobbies. That you need to dedicate time to practice and learn new things if you want to improve.
3:28 is like a trap, I've been told to do this specific thing. What nobody told me is proportions can change, there are a lot of parameters that can be changed in the facial structure. I very much agree on your opinions.
You're very correct. I've been following the advice "The nose is always the middle third of the face" until I looked in the mirror and realized that was a lie. took me a while to notice
@@vaukest5888 proko? I read the head and hands book of loomis and rewatched proko's oldest head vid. Loomis never indicated a 2/3 measurements and relationship. And it took me 5 years to realize and break out of that fixed proportion thing.
@@vaukest5888l knew this was a lie by observation.People with big foreheads has slightly bigger heads and l suppose their proportions vary slightly. Some people have a small cranium no matter the race and young black boys have bigger craniums. People like my brother's cranium is not completely circular but has a heart like curve at the back.
Have any of you even bothered to _read_ Loomis' book? He SPECIFICALLY says that proportions vary between people. He _encourages_ you to look for the proportions. He offers his method as a guideline, and says so specifically lol.
Thank you, thank you!!! Everything you said is true. Best for me, thinking that there's a specific way/rule to drawing/painting. I searched so hard and and I tried to copy every one else, and in the process I forgot myself. It's my way, my painting, my look at the world! Thank you kindly
You actually made my drawings better,even tho I have been doing portraits for as long as I can remember I always try to do things in different ways just to learn more Thanks for everything you do
Dissatisfaction is something I truly struggle with,it always feels like u can’t do anything right &no matter how much compliments u get other peoples criticism hurts even if u hate the drawing urself
Many years ago, a young chef Jamie Oliver travelled to a small island in either Greece or Italy. There he worked in a very small, popular quayside restaurant, under the watchful eye of the owner. Jamie was sent to select the day's catch from the fishermen and create a menu which he prepped for service later that day. The restaurant was busy and service hectic. Jamie used the opportunity to 'pull out all the stops' and showcase his skills. At the end of the evening Jamie was exhausted and felt confident he'd done a fantastic job, as he'd tried so hard to please the diners. At the end of service the owner then did something unexpected. He gave each diner pen & paper and asked for their anonymous and honest assessment of their meals. The owner then went through the results with Jamie. Much of the feedback was positive, some contained constructive criticism and a small number, negative. The criticism was mainly to do with trying too hard - using too many different 'fussy' ingredients, overcomplicating the dishes and thereby overwhelming the star ingredient - the beautiful fresh fish. Jamie seemed a bit dejected after all his hard work. The owner took Jamie aside, scrunched up all the positive reviews and threw them in the bin. He then gathered up the negative slips, put his arm around Jamie's shoulder and tucked the bad reviews into Jamie's shirt pocket. "Forget all the good ones, these are the ones to learn from".
Not all criticism is the same, "your drawing is bad" isn't helpful to you, but "the eyes are too low" can be because it gets you thinking. Try to change the way you view criticism (and ignore it if it's not helpful to you in some way). Good luck!
Thank you for your response. When I typed the comment and hit 'send', it disappeared and I haven't seen it since! 😳😆 By the way, your advice is valued and your artwork is beautiful. Thank you x
Holy smokes, I've always been so particular with sketching precisely trying to focus more on line art. When I switched to doing little scribbles here and there not caring if I made a mess I feel a shift in the way I draw. Honestly, I feel better this way cause I've always been so critical of the process and I'm starting to see magic happen in my drawings! They look more alive.
Great video! I’m getting back into drawing after not doing it consistently for a decade. I’m trying to start with the basics & work on fundamentals. I draw regularly but I’m guilty of trying to to complete things & spending too much time rendering. I need to work on structure a lot more.
Really good advice. More important than the sketches shown. Listen, think and then draw. And draw, and draw, and draw, and draw. No substrate for practice.
Jeff, I follow you on your Facebook page and have benefitted from the drawings posted. Charcoal at first intimidated me because of the dustiness plus getting the lifelikeness proportion and value being issues I struggled with, my artwork wasn't pleasing. So I am happy for your knowledge and for sharing with us vital techniques to get better results. Thank you, Mr. Haines
Greetings Jeff - wanted to say thanks so much for uploading these videos. Your work is a real inspiration to someone like myself that used to enjoy art as a kid and now returning to it many years later just for the enjoyment, and challenge of it. So cool! Please consider making more tutorials or commentary vids they are so immensely helpful! If you had a course for sale I'd buy it in a heartbeat (I'm sure I'm not the only one). Thanks for sharing your work and your thoughts, looking forward to more.
Wow, this is so true. I'm a beginner and have always had a bit of natural skill. But always end up spending a lot of time rendering and very little sketching, so I don't seem to progress. Will start doing this!
Amo profondamente il tuo modo di disegnare, Mi sono avvicinato al ritratto con il carboncino attratto dalla semplicità e alla spontaneità e freschezza dei tuoi ritratti. Spero un giorno, guardando i miei disegni di provare la stessa soddisfazione che provo guardando i tuoi . Grazie. Un tuo ammiratore.. Giuseppe
Thank you for your great and valuable advisers. I have been engaging in painting but still have little doubt about portraits, however, I must practice I will follow your videos. thank you Jeff
Thank you sm :) what I personally recommend is to draw 15 mins for every single day until forever and also practice sketching just for a short time every day! Don’t put pressure on yourself and practice every single day for short amount of time ^^
I'm really glad I watched this particular video. All of your points are valuable, but the quantity over quality exercise is probably something I need to do. Thanks for posting this, and keep posting!
I meant to say was I find an image on line, glance at the clock and say to myself, ,' you have 30 minutes to look as intensively as you can to get a fair likeness ' and sometimes the outcome is not so bad and can be rewarding
01:00 - best insight I've heard when it comes to practice and it's something I'll keep in mind every time I attempt to draw portraits. I've always wondered why I struggle to draw freehand. Now it makes sense to me. I've developed good techniques for rendering, but my ability to abstract reality to draw the underlying construction of my subject is severely lacking. I get bogged down with seeing details and my tendency is to render as I construct. Forcing myself to just practice the construction in my journal can hopefully detach me from the tendency to focus on details.
I love your comment about self criticism, I see many artists feeling bad about being self critical about their own work, but there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you can see the good parts and achievements you've made too.
Wow, Jeff your advice is spot on and pure gold. The quantity over quality, was especially insightful. This was the first time I enjoyed one of your videos, but you caught a devoted follower all the same. Thank you !
This video was really motivating and I agreed with everything you said. I feel like I have learned my methods through watching videos and taking parts of other artists methods and combining ones that worked for me, such as the loomis method and measurements for the face. Now I’m working on preserving gesture as I know that’s my current problem area. Thanks for sharing! 👍🏻💯
This is my second video I’ve watched, and I noticed how you draw the chin into the head. I’ve never thought to do it in that way and I think I’ll try it in my next practice session.
Interesting vedio it is true for example I been using the Loomis method or the oval or the cross method so many of them but I made it easy to understand it making it my way, for example the Loomis method can be changed in son many ways even Loomis him self you can tell from his sketch es he does draw in different ways he did not only use the ball method or dividing the ball he does all kinds of alternative s
TBH, I've been learning to draw faces for quite some time now yet I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I want to be a comic book artist but I feel like I may never get there. I've been on Udemy for a year now and I just want it SO MUCH and SO BAD but who knows what's gonna happen years from. All the best to everyone still grinding!
I’ve had long periods where it seemed like I was making no progress at all. And later when I did seem to have some breakthrough, I realized I was improving the whole time, I just didn’t know it yet. Drawing progress can seem unpredictable sometimes. You’ll get there.
A year isn't "quite some time" lol. Especially if you are just starting out you barely scratched the surface. However if you really do practice in a structured way things fall into place naturally and you gain an understanding. Once you "get it" your knowledge gain accelerates quickly. Then you'll plateau sometimes you'll yo yo. Its never as bad as the beginning though. Once you make a process for yourself you always have it.
I just found you and subscribed; love the use of the phrase/point "healthy dissatisfaction" (re all one's previous work). I will be working with overwhelmingly organic forms, mainly animals, but bringing in effective figures with true likenesses is a plus, for all that formal human portraiture was never studied - thank you!
Love your videos Jeff and I find this one to be one of the best. Golden advices to the aspiring portrait artists 🧑🎨 thank you for sharing your wisdom and expertise 🙏 ❤
Quantity over quality hit me right between the eyes. I have been naturally blessed in my capabilities of fine detail and fully rendering but I have always been mystified at how people could sketch such great looking work so quickly and I take forever. It is because I have been struggling through the beginning to get to the end, where it is easier for me. As a result I struggle with proportion and perspective every time I draw! Thank you so much for this video, this is life changing for me.
Great advice! straight to the point and very practical. I once attended an atelier school where student spend months working on perfecting a painting. I completely agreed with you take that it is more beneficial to paint more less perfect painting and working on only one perfect painting. Needles to say, I quickly quit the atelier and paint daily on my own.
Think of it as necessary and unnecessary. Very quick, timed sketches of just a few minutes is a good exercise in recognizing what’s necessary. Good luck!
When something doesn't look like something at the beginning of the drawing, I get desperate and can never be patient. The solution to this, of course, is to practice a lot. But sometimes I act like I don't have an eraser, like I can never fix it. This is a situation I experience frequently in my life. I don't have the patience to try some things, I feel like giving up at the beginning. I hope I can solve it. Thank you very much for your advices.❤
I draw portraits for 6 years, I can do pretty good ones already, and still point number 1 is relevant - the most crucial mistakes are from the incorrect construction and inability to see the mistakes in proportions
Bob Ross said it best. My art is my art and your art is your art. You should never try to paint my paintings. You strive to paint your paintings similar to mine if you’re painting a portrait with me.
How does one know in a drawing demonstration that a device like the Camera Lucida app or the Da Vinci Eye app is or is not being used? I believe recording in time lapse is an indication. Also the camera seemingly is between the artist’s eye and hand. Never making a mistake while drawing is an apparent indication, too.
This video was totally golden for me!! Thank you for these tips. It’s time for me to go back to practicing portraits again. This was a very inspiring video for me.👏👏👏
This is such a great video. I have always loved drawing ( my late mum was an accomplished artist who did amazing drawings and paintings) ❤ I’m not very good, but have enjoyed sketching my 5 grandchildren over the years. They seem to like the pics and I love spending time with them watching them do creative things. ❤
Jeff you are a talented artist and teacher. So glad I came across this video. Your advice to focus on quantity and structure/construction certainly seems to ring true.
Thank you for your words of wisdom! I'm an incoming architecture student and I know for a fact that I'll be able to apply your advices in my studies as well as my drawings. ❤
Thanks! It's a matter of preference really. Some charcoal artists like heavily textured paper, while others like something smoother. Personally, I use Strathmore 400 series drawing paper. It has a medium finish. Just stay away from paper that is too smooth so the charcoal has something to hang on to.
This is a great video! The advice is spot on. I'm an anime-stylized artist and everything here applies just the same to my type of work. I feel like I'm being held back by the lack of quantity, and planning to fix that by regularly doing copies/studies. It's a bit weird that copies can be a bit controversial whereas drawing from nature isn't. But I think it's a fair game if we're honest and upfront about the work being a copy/study. What I like the most about this type of practice is that it shortens the time to start drawing -- no agonizing over the subject, the pose, the burden of being creative 😅 And I hope (well, I know) that these skills will transfer to my original work in the future.
Thank you very much for the advice. Everything you said is all great advice, to me it was about not spend too much time with details especially when practicing. Thanks
These are great! I’m still a beginner though. I used to draw all the time when I was young, so I developed some raw abilities, but I never studied drawing seriously. Now I’d like to slow down, get back into it, and learn how it’s really done.
Thanks man, I started drawing again after not picking up a pencil for years even tho I’m 19 years old, listening to this advice not only made get out of my mental block but also made me get some anatomy books to study more about it😂, I appreciate it
I don't usually write comments, but really thank you for making this video. I have had the longest art block until now. I was so stuck on making everything perfect that i barley made any progress. I dont know how to explain this, something in this video clicked something. I feel like a printing machine. I just did three portraits in an hour and im super happy with them. Keep up the good work
Very helpful! Thank you. I attended a course recently which was soooo focused on Anatomy when all I wanted to know was how to use a conte pencil! It really put me off my sketching for weeks as I felt intimidated and overloaded with information. Anyway, I will take a leaf out of your book and send some time on construction and simple drawings to get back into the swing of things, as I find sketching very mindful and relaxing. 😊
I’m a retired illustrator and graphic artist. For well over 30 years, I did art to meet the needs of my clients, and I did very well. After retiring, I have struggled trying to get back to the joy I had as a kid doing art for fun. For me, it’s like starting over learning new skills. Your advice is definitely helpful. Sometimes you need someone to remind you of the basics and to try a different philosophy from time to time.
Thanks Loren, I worked in the printing industry (prepress) for many years. Taking up drawing again after years of mostly digital work was like a revelation for me. I wish you all the best with your drawings!
That's the problem with a lot of adults...they don't like to do the things they once did as a child. I never lost that feeling of being a kid
Jeff, I love to draw and have shifted my focus at different times from the figure, to faces, to buildings and environments, and landscapes sometimes. I have to say, that faces are very elusive and require the most time to regain facility. I can construct buildings and spaces, but to get a true likeness seems to be 80% frequent practice and 20% alchemy. Thanks for posting this; it’s quite inspiring to me.
Many helpful advices. Thanks!
How did you get in an industry like that?
Sage advice. As the Chinese say, there are many paths to the top of the mountain. As someone who's struggling in the foothills I always value the guidance given by those who are capable of the kind of quality portraits you post here.
Thanks so much for the poetic comment, love that!
Nice
As a fellow traveller stumbling towards Base camp I really appreciate your comment and this great encouraging video. Thanks to both of you for posting
As an old school Parsons student, I'm 56 now, I wish you could have been my teacher... what you said in this one video rang so true for me... THANK YOU SIR
and a hello from Central Mexico...
Hello and thanks you! Very kind of you to say.
5:11 is great advice. As a child I was discouraged from drawing because I was drawing from references that I really liked a lot, but friends and family simply saw it as "copying". I cannot stress this enough, a healthy practice from references are invaluable. Art professionals in the animation, and game industry are prime examples that working with references never stop being one of the many tools in your toolbelt. Furthermore, drawing from a reference, still life, and/or from Life will continuously build an artist's "visual library", thus giving you increasing familiarity and understand with shape, form, structure, proportionality, how light interacts with the subject, and three dimensionality.
Thanks for commenting! I agree with you. :)
Some of my greatest leaps in progress were from a specific artist, 30 days straight or less.
I used the rule of 3 when I started drawing. Just draw anything 3 times for however long you have the time. Eventually your proportions get better, shading gets better and so on. Then one day you will nail it. I kinda see like learning how not to draw and then being an artist all of a sudden. Practice makes improvement
Learning is failing upwards.
This is my first comment on UA-cam ever... but I saw your first videos two years ago... I copied every one of your pictures in charcoal... you draw people's souls. I learned that from you... when I draw I'm scared, but I learned from you how to capture the soul... I rarely show my pictures but when I do, people are amazed, thanks to you... thank you very much again
Thanks so much for commenting. I really love hearing things like this. I wish you the best with your drawing.
@@JeffHainesArt This is what stroke me first about this channel. My first time visiting but really loved how characteristic & soulful your drawings look. Thanks for sharing
I’m 50 years old now. I spent a lot of time in my youth drawing. I haven’t done much in the past 20years, but I’ve committed to an hour a day focusing on portraits. I appreciate the wealth of information freely shared. Thank you. I’m falling in love with drawing again.
Thanks so much for the comment, I love hearing that. I have a similar story. Best of luck with your drawings!
I'm told that I am far too critical of my work. I don't fish for compliments. I just see what can be better with practice and when I get it right I am the first person to say that I love it.
This is the video I needed at this time of me doubting my art journey. Solid advice, not sugarcoating it, straight to the point and informative. Thank u so much for this. The part where u said that some people or artist take offense in u learning and drawing from reference is true. Most if not all veteran or professional artists would tell you to draw from reference and it's often times the amateurs or people who have no idea how drawing works and put it on to "talent" that says otherwise.
Thank you for commenting! Happy that you're getting something from the videos that you find useful!
In all my years of doing art professionally, I have never once heard of another person or artist take "offense" from learning or drawing from reference.
Sometimes you have to use reference IF you can't see and study the real thing in person (which is ALWAYS a far better choice to draw from (for your own learning and reference).
Whenever I've had newbies ask me what the best way to learn to draw is, I ALWAYS suggest to draw from real things and during different times of the day so that you can see how the changing light affects objects.
Of course, you can also practice drawing things with the aid of moving a light around an object to see how the form changes, or turn it.
Drawing portraits in person is always an awesome learning experience, because you can view and study the shapes in their natural 3D state AND you are seeing the person or pet, etc. in stereo-vision. 😊
You see and learn much more because your two eyes each see from a slightly different angle, and your brain melds the image together.
A photo image is a flattened 2D image, and because you loose making that natural 3D interpretation that your mind (and memory) creates for you, you miss out on accumulating that knowledge of the object that you can draw upon when creating future people, objects and more from your imagination.
In some cases, photo reference just doesn't give enough info, or it's very limited.
But like I said earlier, it is still useful if you can't see something in person.
And of course, sometimes reference is just needed for basic info, proportions or details.
"All's well that ends well."
@@pat4005 Thanks for the great advice! I've been slowly cultivating a habit of drawing when I'm outside or drawing from life. I was always shy on drawing outside cause I don't want people to look at my work while I draw but I'm slowly getting out of my comfort zone.
And ur lucky to have not encountered people who take offense looking at reference. Growing up in my preteen years back in the day in the early 2014 onward when I first started doing art, People have this bias that artists have this innate "talent," that it's something you're born with rather than something you train for. I think it goes to the fact that people around me have no knowledge or background on how drawing or painting works and chalk it up to, your either good at it from the get go or not. I was one of the few people in my school that took interest in art and drawing and when my schoolmates would look at my art they'd compliment me for how "talented" I am and they wished they could do that too. When I told them they could and they should just practice, they always say "Oh I'm not good at drawing" and that they're not as "talented" as me or they would try drawing for a week and then give up because they see no "progress" Like no shit, you just started. It's like going to a gym in a month and being disappointed ur not as ripped as a greek sculpture. When I show them my process in drawing by using reference their opinion of me changes like suddenly "Oh ur not as good as I thought" because of the belief that "real" artists draw from memory.
I think in general social media ruined the average person's view on how an artist should work. It creates an illusion that artists should always be good at the get go because artists on instagram and twitter hardly ever posts their "bad" art or art when they first started. I'm glad that it's changing though, like people are starting to realize art is like a sport or any type of skill-based hobbies. That you need to dedicate time to practice and learn new things if you want to improve.
Your voice is like music to my ears and your artworks are fallen pieces of heaven itself.
Haha! Thanks! Can't do much better than that. :)
3:28 is like a trap, I've been told to do this specific thing. What nobody told me is proportions can change, there are a lot of parameters that can be changed in the facial structure.
I very much agree on your opinions.
You're very correct. I've been following the advice "The nose is always the middle third of the face" until I looked in the mirror and realized that was a lie. took me a while to notice
@@vaukest5888 proko? I read the head and hands book of loomis and rewatched proko's oldest head vid. Loomis never indicated a 2/3 measurements and relationship.
And it took me 5 years to realize and break out of that fixed proportion thing.
@@vaukest5888l knew this was a lie by observation.People with big foreheads has slightly bigger heads and l suppose their proportions vary slightly. Some people have a small cranium no matter the race and young black boys have bigger craniums. People like my brother's cranium is not completely circular but has a heart like curve at the back.
Have any of you even bothered to _read_ Loomis' book? He SPECIFICALLY says that proportions vary between people. He _encourages_ you to look for the proportions. He offers his method as a guideline, and says so specifically lol.
@@dpelpal yes.
I can sit and listen to you all day.
Yes!
Your progress as an artist relies on a healthy dissatisfaction with everything you've done up until this point. Wow!! So true 👍
Thank you, thank you!!! Everything you said is true. Best for me, thinking that there's a specific way/rule to drawing/painting. I searched so hard and and I tried to copy every one else, and in the process I forgot myself. It's my way, my painting, my look at the world!
Thank you kindly
Glad that you liked it!
You actually made my drawings better,even tho I have been doing portraits for as long as I can remember
I always try to do things in different ways just to learn more
Thanks for everything you do
Thank you Michael, I appreciate your comments :)
What a great points. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Dissatisfaction is something I truly struggle with,it always feels like u can’t do anything right &no matter how much compliments u get other peoples criticism hurts even if u hate the drawing urself
Many years ago, a young chef Jamie Oliver travelled to a small island in either Greece or Italy. There he worked in a very small, popular quayside restaurant, under the watchful eye of the owner.
Jamie was sent to select the day's catch from the fishermen and create a menu which he prepped for service later that day.
The restaurant was busy and service hectic. Jamie used the opportunity to 'pull out all the stops' and showcase his skills. At the end of the evening Jamie was exhausted and felt confident he'd done a fantastic job, as he'd tried so hard to please the diners.
At the end of service the owner then did something unexpected. He gave each diner pen & paper and asked for their anonymous and honest assessment of their meals.
The owner then went through the results with Jamie. Much of the feedback was positive, some contained constructive criticism and a small number, negative.
The criticism was mainly to do with trying too hard - using too many different 'fussy' ingredients, overcomplicating the dishes and thereby overwhelming the star ingredient - the beautiful fresh fish.
Jamie seemed a bit dejected after all his hard work. The owner took Jamie aside, scrunched up all the positive reviews and threw them in the bin.
He then gathered up the negative slips, put his arm around Jamie's shoulder and tucked the bad reviews into Jamie's shirt pocket.
"Forget all the good ones, these are the ones to learn from".
Not all criticism is the same, "your drawing is bad" isn't helpful to you, but "the eyes are too low" can be because it gets you thinking. Try to change the way you view criticism (and ignore it if it's not helpful to you in some way). Good luck!
Great story awaywegrow! I plan on re-telling it. :)
Thank you for your response.
When I typed the comment and hit 'send', it disappeared and I haven't seen it since! 😳😆
By the way, your advice is valued and your artwork is beautiful. Thank you x
This is one of the best videos on drawing advice I've ever seen.
Thank you for posting this, Jeff! It is very helpful and inspiring!
Glad you liked it Gio!
Holy smokes, I've always been so particular with sketching precisely trying to focus more on line art. When I switched to doing little scribbles here and there not caring if I made a mess I feel a shift in the way I draw. Honestly, I feel better this way cause I've always been so critical of the process and I'm starting to see magic happen in my drawings! They look more alive.
title should be "Earl Nightingale tells you how to get good at drawing"
Haha!
This video is an absolute masterpiece. Beautiful drawings, beautiful advice. Thank you for this.
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it.
Great video! I’m getting back into drawing after not doing it consistently for a decade. I’m trying to start with the basics & work on fundamentals. I draw regularly but I’m guilty of trying to to complete things & spending too much time rendering. I need to work on structure a lot more.
this was great! i love that your advice on the best approach is simply to pick the one that works for you
Thanks so much! Love your channel!
Really good advice. More important than the sketches shown. Listen, think and then draw. And draw, and draw, and draw, and draw.
No substrate for practice.
Substitute
Jeff, really thank you man about the advices, your work is sooo nice, your portraits so unique..keep us learning with the right way mate!
Happy that you liked it!
Jeff, I follow you on your Facebook page and have benefitted from the drawings posted. Charcoal at first intimidated me because of the dustiness plus getting the lifelikeness proportion and value being issues I struggled with, my artwork wasn't pleasing. So I am happy for your knowledge and for sharing with us vital techniques to get better results. Thank you, Mr. Haines
Hey Kevin! Good to see you here and thanks for your comments!
Thank you Jeff for making this video. Much good advice and information.
Execelent advice! And fantastic work! I appteciate the slight caricature feel of your drawings. Ill use them in class -Art Teacher
Thanks Travis! I appreciate that.
Greetings Jeff - wanted to say thanks so much for uploading these videos. Your work is a real inspiration to someone like myself that used to enjoy art as a kid and now returning to it many years later just for the enjoyment, and challenge of it. So cool! Please consider making more tutorials or commentary vids they are so immensely helpful! If you had a course for sale I'd buy it in a heartbeat (I'm sure I'm not the only one). Thanks for sharing your work and your thoughts, looking forward to more.
Thanks so much! Glad tat you enjoy them :)
Wow, this is so true. I'm a beginner and have always had a bit of natural skill. But always end up spending a lot of time rendering and very little sketching, so I don't seem to progress. Will start doing this!
Good luck!
Amo profondamente il tuo modo di disegnare, Mi sono avvicinato al ritratto con il carboncino attratto dalla semplicità e alla spontaneità e freschezza dei tuoi ritratti.
Spero un giorno, guardando i miei disegni di provare la stessa soddisfazione che provo guardando i tuoi . Grazie. Un tuo ammiratore.. Giuseppe
0:21 this part made me chuckle 😂
I find myself coming back to this video a lot not realizing Ive already seen it, your art style is just so appealing I wish i could replicate it
Glad you like it! Best of luck!
Thank you for your great and valuable advisers. I have been engaging in painting but still have little doubt about portraits, however, I must practice I will follow your videos. thank you Jeff
Glad that you liked it!
Thank you sm :) what I personally recommend is to draw 15 mins for every single day until forever and also practice sketching just for a short time every day! Don’t put pressure on yourself and practice every single day for short amount of time ^^
Brilliant advice sir……only matched by your obviously fabulous drawing skills. Many thanks and good wishes from England
Thanks so much Richard, best wishes to you too!
I could listen to a audiobook voiced by you. You have such an informative way to your voice
Thanks so much!
Absolutely!
Reminds me of agent smith’s voice
0:49 “less developed and less refined…” whoa!!! Incredible!
ASMR voice says wise things that help me relax about my weird methods. Thank you!
Haha, thanks so much! I usually see weird as a positive thing. Keep going weirdo.
I'm really glad I watched this particular video. All of your points are valuable, but the quantity over quality exercise is probably something I need to do. Thanks for posting this, and keep posting!
Often, not wanting to get deeply involved in a finished work of art ,
I meant to say was I find an image on line, glance at the clock and say to myself, ,' you have 30 minutes to look as intensively as you can to get a fair likeness ' and sometimes the outcome is not so bad and can be rewarding
01:00 - best insight I've heard when it comes to practice and it's something I'll keep in mind every time I attempt to draw portraits. I've always wondered why I struggle to draw freehand. Now it makes sense to me. I've developed good techniques for rendering, but my ability to abstract reality to draw the underlying construction of my subject is severely lacking. I get bogged down with seeing details and my tendency is to render as I construct. Forcing myself to just practice the construction in my journal can hopefully detach me from the tendency to focus on details.
Thanks for commenting! Best of luck with your work.
wow, I love that head construction between 3:09 and 4:00, so quick and so effective!
I truly enjoyed this tutorial! Thank you , Jeff. I’ve always admired your work.
Hi Kathleen! Thanks!
I really like your teaching style. Your explanations are excellent.
I love your comment about self criticism, I see many artists feeling bad about being self critical about their own work, but there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you can see the good parts and achievements you've made too.
Well said!
What are the beginning skills, is it only the head shapes, etc or also eyes, nose , mouth.
merci beaucouppour cette brillante explication j'adore votre art👍👍👍👍
You're very welcome, thank you for watching!
I'm very grateful for this man's advice, and hard work.
Wow, Jeff your advice is spot on and pure gold. The quantity over quality, was especially insightful. This was the first time I enjoyed one of your videos, but you caught a devoted follower all the same. Thank you !
Thank you Kim! Welcome to the channel.
This video was really motivating and I agreed with everything you said. I feel like I have learned my methods through watching videos and taking parts of other artists methods and combining ones that worked for me, such as the loomis method and measurements for the face. Now I’m working on preserving gesture as I know that’s my current problem area. Thanks for sharing! 👍🏻💯
This is my second video I’ve watched, and I noticed how you draw the chin into the head. I’ve never thought to do it in that way and I think I’ll try it in my next practice session.
Thanks so much! Best of luck with your drawing.
Wow, thanks! Your comments were so freeing.
Glad you liked it!
thank you. these hints are useful and I plan to use them!
Thanks! and good luck!
Your voice very soothing and the content reassuring I’m a rank amateur, but loving it
Thanks so much!
Interesting vedio it is true for example I been using the Loomis method or the oval or the cross method so many of them but I made it easy to understand it making it my way, for example the Loomis method can be changed in son many ways even Loomis him self you can tell from his sketch es he does draw in different ways he did not only use the ball method or dividing the ball he does all kinds of alternative s
TBH, I've been learning to draw faces for quite some time now yet I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I want to be a comic book artist but I feel like I may never get there. I've been on Udemy for a year now and I just want it SO MUCH and SO BAD but who knows what's gonna happen years from.
All the best to everyone still grinding!
I’ve had long periods where it seemed like I was making no progress at all. And later when I did seem to have some breakthrough, I realized I was improving the whole time, I just didn’t know it yet. Drawing progress can seem unpredictable sometimes. You’ll get there.
A year isn't "quite some time" lol. Especially if you are just starting out you barely scratched the surface. However if you really do practice in a structured way things fall into place naturally and you gain an understanding. Once you "get it" your knowledge gain accelerates quickly. Then you'll plateau sometimes you'll yo yo. Its never as bad as the beginning though. Once you make a process for yourself you always have it.
@@ducksoff7236 I just want it so bad at the end of the day you know? Whatever happens happens!
@@ducksoff7236 at the end of the day, I just want it SO BAD and SO MUCH you know?
Very helpful. Thank you!
Glad you find it helpful!
I value your opinion, and you've won a subscription. Beautiful drawings, all of them.
Thanks so much! Welcome!
Thank you! I will put into practice your suggestions!
Check my art broo
I just found you and subscribed; love the use of the phrase/point "healthy dissatisfaction" (re all one's previous work). I will be working with overwhelmingly organic forms, mainly animals, but bringing in effective figures with true likenesses is a plus, for all that formal human portraiture was never studied - thank you!
Great advices, thank you so much
Love your videos Jeff and I find this one to be one of the best. Golden advices to the aspiring portrait artists 🧑🎨 thank you for sharing your wisdom and expertise 🙏 ❤
Thanks! Happy that you liked it :)
I'm just starting out. Thank you for the inspiration and knowledge. Good man
Glad you enjoyed it!
Quantity over quality hit me right between the eyes. I have been naturally blessed in my capabilities of fine detail and fully rendering but I have always been mystified at how people could sketch such great looking work so quickly and I take forever.
It is because I have been struggling through the beginning to get to the end, where it is easier for me. As a result I struggle with proportion and perspective every time I draw!
Thank you so much for this video, this is life changing for me.
Thanks for the message! Happy that you got something from it. Best of luck to you!
GREAT wisdom here, every artist needs to hear this. Actually, every person needs to hear it.
Thank you David!
You're very honest and I appreciate you and your video.
Thanks so much, I appreciate that.
@@JeffHainesArt you're very welcome.
This is the best art video I ever watched! Inspiring encouraging and empowering! Thank you!
Thanks you! Glad you like it.
Like many others, I’m getting back to drawing that I enjoyed when I was a kid. This video is very helpful and inspiring. Thanks.
I've always like to draw....
I'm a kid again 😄
Great advice! straight to the point and very practical. I once attended an atelier school where student spend months working on perfecting a painting. I completely agreed with you take that it is more beneficial to paint more less perfect painting and working on only one perfect painting. Needles to say, I quickly quit the atelier and paint daily on my own.
Think of it as necessary and unnecessary. Very quick, timed sketches of just a few minutes is a good exercise in recognizing what’s necessary. Good luck!
When something doesn't look like something at the beginning of the drawing, I get desperate and can never be patient. The solution to this, of course, is to practice a lot. But sometimes I act like I don't have an eraser, like I can never fix it. This is a situation I experience frequently in my life. I don't have the patience to try some things, I feel like giving up at the beginning. I hope I can solve it.
Thank you very much for your advices.❤
You're welcome. And best of luck to you :)
Your artwork is so beautiful. My portraits are not as detailed as yous.
I draw portraits for 6 years, I can do pretty good ones already, and still point number 1 is relevant - the most crucial mistakes are from the incorrect construction and inability to see the mistakes in proportions
Glad you liked it!
Bob Ross said it best. My art is my art and your art is your art. You should never try to paint my paintings. You strive to paint your paintings similar to mine if you’re painting a portrait with me.
Well said. Thanks for the comments!
How does one know in a drawing demonstration that a device like the Camera Lucida app or the Da Vinci Eye app is or is not being used? I believe recording in time lapse is an indication. Also the camera seemingly is between the artist’s eye and hand. Never making a mistake while drawing is an apparent indication, too.
Oh waw you got a deep voice..🤩
This video was totally golden for me!! Thank you for these tips. It’s time for me to go back to practicing portraits again. This was a very inspiring video for me.👏👏👏
I love hearing that! Good luck Karen!
This is such a great video.
I have always loved drawing ( my late mum was an accomplished artist who did amazing drawings and paintings) ❤
I’m not very good, but have enjoyed sketching my 5 grandchildren over the years. They seem to like the pics and I love spending time with them watching them do creative things. ❤
Thanks so much!
Jeff you are a talented artist and teacher. So glad I came across this video. Your advice to focus on quantity and structure/construction certainly seems to ring true.
Thanks so much! Glad you like it.
What a wonderful chance to watch this video as a life time advice for getting better on drawing portrait, thank you sou much!
Thank you for making these!
Thank you for your words of wisdom! I'm an incoming architecture student and I know for a fact that I'll be able to apply your advices in my studies as well as my drawings. ❤
Bonjour jeff , je voulais savoir si il fallait un papier special pour le fusain , je commence seulement et j'en ai aucune idee , merci beaucoup
Thanks! It's a matter of preference really. Some charcoal artists like heavily textured paper, while others like something smoother. Personally, I use Strathmore 400 series drawing paper. It has a medium finish. Just stay away from paper that is too smooth so the charcoal has something to hang on to.
@@JeffHainesArt merci beaucoup pour votre conseil !!
This is a great video! The advice is spot on. I'm an anime-stylized artist and everything here applies just the same to my type of work. I feel like I'm being held back by the lack of quantity, and planning to fix that by regularly doing copies/studies. It's a bit weird that copies can be a bit controversial whereas drawing from nature isn't. But I think it's a fair game if we're honest and upfront about the work being a copy/study.
What I like the most about this type of practice is that it shortens the time to start drawing -- no agonizing over the subject, the pose, the burden of being creative 😅 And I hope (well, I know) that these skills will transfer to my original work in the future.
Thank you! Best of luck with your work.
No questions. I just like your work. It's great. Thanks
Thank you very much for the advice. Everything you said is all great advice, to me it was about not spend too much time with details especially when practicing. Thanks
This is the best advice I have ever heard ❤.Thank you 😊.Peace ✌🏼
These are great! I’m still a beginner though. I used to draw all the time when I was young, so I developed some raw abilities, but I never studied drawing seriously. Now I’d like to slow down, get back into it, and learn how it’s really done.
Sounds like you have the right attitude. Best of luck to you!
Thanks man, I started drawing again after not picking up a pencil for years even tho I’m 19 years old, listening to this advice not only made get out of my mental block but also made me get some anatomy books to study more about it😂, I appreciate it
Thanks for your comment! Best of luck with your drawing!
I don't usually write comments, but really thank you for making this video. I have had the longest art block until now. I was so stuck on making everything perfect that i barley made any progress. I dont know how to explain this, something in this video clicked something. I feel like a printing machine. I just did three portraits in an hour and im super happy with them. Keep up the good work
Thanks so much for commenting! I love hearing things like this so much, makes all the effort worthwhile. Best of luck with your drawings!
Great, great job. I’m a fine art portrait drawer and you definitely hit the nail on the head all around
thank you for your work sir.
نصائح رائعة 👏🏻 شكرا على الفديو ❤
You draw too?
@@garyrush.3424 yes
you have a nice voice, I cant get the same effect in videos as you with my voice
thank you i feel i found this video at the perfect time for me in my journey so yes i cant thank you enough for making it!
Glad you got something from it John!
Very helpful! Thank you. I attended a course recently which was soooo focused on Anatomy when all I wanted to know was how to use a conte pencil! It really put me off my sketching for weeks as I felt intimidated and overloaded with information. Anyway, I will take a leaf out of your book and send some time on construction and simple drawings to get back into the swing of things, as I find sketching very mindful and relaxing. 😊
Thank you Wendy! I find loose sketching very relaxing as well. Almost like meditation.
Hey Jeff, I was wondering if you could make a video about drawing with charcoal for starters, any thanks!
Excellent advice; to work more on the quick studies then trying to do complete portraits when starting off. Thanks!
Thanks you! and good luck to you.
Great video Jeff
Thanks Simon!
Really excellent advice.