Learn To Draw(from life!): 3 approaches to measuring + proportion

Skill Level:
Beginner

Class Length:
1 hr 35 mins

Materials Required:
A Pencil
A few sheets of paper
An eraser
a ruler
a pair of scissors
thread
tape

In this drawing for beginners COURSE, I'll walk you through three different approaches to measuring and proportion, taking you from drawing from reference photos, followed by drawing from single objects to finally working from a simple still life 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

  • understanding measuring and proportion in drawing

    UNDERSTANDING MEASURING + PROPORTION

    We will begin by exploring the fundamentals and theory of what proportion and measuring in drawing is, and why it is important.

    Don’t worry - I’ll cover all the mathematical principles you need to understand with simple, beginner friendly examples, and we will be practising them throughout the class :)

  • grid technique learning to draw drawing for beginners

    GRID TECHNIQUE

    We will then tackle our first project and use the grid technique to work from a reference photo to produce a drawing with accurate proportions.

    This is a great place to begin as your reference won’t move, so we can practise all the proportion and measuring theory we have just learnt.

  • viewfinder grid learn to draw drawing for beginners proportion

    VIEWFINDER TECHNIQUE

    Then we will progress to working from a single object to draw from for our second project, using the viewfinder technique to help us draw this accurately.

    This is a great step on from using a grid as the principles are the same in terms of measuring and proportion, and we can get to grips with working from life and the challenges that can bring.

  • botanical doodling mandala wreath easy drawing

    SIGHTING TECHNIQUES

    Finally we will move onto our third project where we will tackle a simple still life of 3 objects, using a variety of sighting techniques.

    Sighting techniques are one of the most helpful drawing techniques to master, as they allow you to work from any subject, in any location in a way that can allow you to achieve realistic proportions.

  • guided draw with me draw along videos tutorials

    GUIDED DEMONSTRATION VIDEOS

    I will be demonstrating each technique in separate demonstration videos, so that you can see me walk you through all the fundamentals and theory in practice.

    I’ll show you what I can see from my eye view, and how to check for and correct mistakes as you map out your drawing.

  • botanical bird drawing doodles silhouette

    NEXT STEPS

    I’ll give you some ideas for how you could continue to develop your drawing skills beyond the class, so that you can incorporate what you have learnt into an ongoing creative practice, giving you a road map to understand where you have been and where you are heading.

    Learning to draw is such an exciting journey and I’m so excited to help you along the way!

I'M READY TO LEARN!

WHO THE COURSE IS FOR

This class is suitable for beginners although those with drawing experience would benefit from the techniques explored.

This class is perfect if you:

  • Are just starting out with drawing and would like a thorough overview of all things measuring and proportion

  • Love drawing from photographs, or from your imagination, but would like to make the transition to drawing from observation

  • Are comfortable with drawing but would like a refresher on the technical skills involved in achieving realistic proportions in your drawing

WHAT you will TAKE AWAY

By the end of the course, you will have:

  • A series of 3 drawings which each explore a different method of achieving realistic proportions

  • An understanding of the fundamentals and theory of measuring and proportion, and how to use it to achieve more accurate drawings

  • A toolkit of helpful drawing tips such as how to construct a still life, where to find good reference photographs to draw from, and how to use a piece of dental floss to help you draw more accurate drawings(!)

supporting resources

Provided along with the class is the Class Resource PDF which contains:

  • 2 x reference photographs for you to use with Project 1 to practice drawing your own grid

  • A transparent grid .png file for you to create your own digital references

  • 2 x reference photographs with a grid already applied so you can practice drawing in proportion right away!

testimonials

  • "THE PERFECT RECAP OF ALL THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO STILL LIFE"

    I really enjoyed this class! It is the perfect recap of all the different approaches to still life. Mel is a very engaging and competent teacher, and I appreciated how every step was clearly described, and how she guides you through the process. I have been drawing for years now, and that is also part of my profession, but it is great sometimes to refresh some basics. I like that there is a troubleshooting lesson at the end, with helpful tips and tricks to fix problems in the drawing. Thank you, Mel, for another great class!

    - Giulia M

  • "THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SHINES THROUGH"

    The years of experience shines through in Mel's latest class. Her explanation and organisation of lessons is on point. Even for somebody like me who took the traditional art school route it was very enlightening and great to revisit the fundamentals. Mel’s substantial knowledge is an absolute asset and I encourage everybody to revisit core observation skills using these methods.

    - Ohn Mar W

  • "I LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS CLASS"

    I learned a lot from this class, I consider myself a beginner to average when it comes to drawing, and this thoughtful and detailed class, was something I needed to be able improve, as I always have had difficult whit using references. This class helped me look at the subject I was trying to draw in a different light.

    - Anita N

  • "GREAT CLASS"

    Great class on several different ways of gauging proportions when sketching a composition. I've used basic grids before on photographs that I wanted to paint, but Mel explains ways to work directly from still life, as well. She's a great teacher, explains things clearly, gives tips for problems you might encounter, and offers feedback on projects. Excellent production qualities, as well. I'm looking forward to experimenting further with these methods.

    - Elda S

SOUNDS GREAT!
PROJECT 3 copy.jpg
PROJECT 2 copy.jpg
PROJECT 1 copy.jpg

ENROLLMENT OPTIONS

enroll through
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£150 per year

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New members will unlock a one month free trial

ONE-TIME
PURCHASE

£15

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Watch it whenever you like

Lifetime access

Image of Mel Rye waving

MEET YOUR TEACHER

HI THERE! I’M MEL

I’m an artist and educator, and my mission is to support and empower others to explore their creativity.

Learning to draw can be scary. This is why I am passionate about creating beginer friendly courses which take simple but impactful concepts, and deliver them in fun, bite-sized lessons which will accelerate your progress.

As a beginner, we’re often more comfy drawing from reference photographs, and the transition to drawing from life can feel like a daunting task. This class is structured in such a way that we will bridge the gap between drawing from 2D references and drawing from life, whilst investigating how to ensure we are achieving accurate proportions in the process. Once you understand this principle, the world is your oyster (in drawing terms!)

I’d love to share these techniques with you!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • No, the class is designed for beginners (although I have had feedback from more advanced students that they also found it helpful!). It is useful if you are reasonably happy with very basic sketching techniques - for example drawing straight and curved lines, and simple geometric shapes like circles, squares, triangles, ovals etc - nothing too complicated, but that will just mean you can focus more on the skills we're focussing on this class (measuring and proportion) rather than worrying about being able to draw shapes.

    If you feel you're not quite there yet, I'd recommend having a look at my other course Learn to Draw: A Beginner's Guide To Sketching Anything! which covers these fundamental sketching techniques.

  • No not at all! There is a lesson in the course dedicated to understanding the mathematical principles behind measuring and proportion, which is geared toward beginners and gives you the foundational knowledge you need to understand all three approaches we'll be covering.

  • All my courses consist of pre recorded video lessons. There are also downloadable resources such as worksheets, reference photos, guides and other materials which will help support your learning.

    All my courses are structured around a class project, which is a practical way of applying the skills taught in the course, and also means that you will have created something by the end of the course, as well as learning lots of new skills - I think this is the best way of learning!

  • The course content is exactly the same, whichever enrolment option you choose.

  • This depends on your enrollment method. If you enroll via Skillshare, you will have access for as long as you have an active subscription. If you make a one-time purchase, you will have access for as long as the course exists on the internet.

  • Yes you can - when you select the one-time purchase, there is an option at checkout to buy the course as a gift. All you need to do is enter the recipient’s email address and there is an option to add a gift message if you’d like to. The course will be sent directly to them with a link to access it, along with your message if you added one.

  • Gumroad is an e-commerce platform which allows creators to sell digital products directly to their audience. It is a popular platform for finding all sorts of products, like digital brushes, e-books and courses.

    When you make a one-time purchase of one of my online courses, you will be doing this through Gumroad. You can either create a log-in there, which will allow you to view all your Gumroad purchases in your library, or you can access the course by using the link which will be emailed to you after you have completed your purchase. There is also a Gumroad app, if you like to watch courses on your smart phone or tablet device.

  • No problem! I’m always happy to answer questions - please reach out using the contact form here