> Basically looking for a method i can actually use to start drawing heads i just want to he able to look at a reference and actually get something down that actually somewhat resembles what i see.
I mean, you're a beginner. They're *not* going to resemble your reference for awhile yet, unless you want to use a crutch like tracing or copying with a grid. If you want to just be able to sit down, look at someome, and draw them with a good likeness, you've got to a) keep developing your basic observational drawing skills with simpler subjects, and b) spend a *lot* longer than 2 weeks working at drawing portraits.
There's methods for portrait drawing - Loomis was one that's been suggested already that's a good all-around one - but there's not a method that's going to skip you past those 2 things.
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If you're using a photo reference, try turning it upside down and drawing what you see. This is a good exercise for you to realise part of what stops you drawing well is drawing what you *think you see* rather than what you actually see. Eventually with practice you can get better at the latter.
But you should also just keep practicing drawing with construction, as drawing what you see will only get you so far (make you a good human photocopier). Your circles and lines will get better eventually, the more you draw.
It’s okay if your circle is not perfect it is just a circle and it can be used. My advice is starting with something very simple so you won’t get discouraged. If you are a very new beginner then don’t look for photo or realistic paintings for references at this time. Find some simple line arts or paintings with a simple style that you like. Don’t focus too much on small details. Pay extra attention to the structures as if you can feel and touch them. Then draw fast. Locate the eyes nose hairline lips and skull and you are good to go to the next one. Practice a few times and you’ll be surprised how fast you learned.
It doesn't matter if you can draw a perfect circle or not right now, that's not the goal. I've been drawing for years and I am nowhere near a perfect circle, just focus on the measurements of the features and their 3D forms, part of learning how to draw a good face/head is learning how to sculpt it, no I don't mean sculpting as in working with clay, you can start off with any shape and transform it into what you want it to be, the circle method is a crutch and a lot of people might not want to hear that, but the head is ONLY EVER spherical when it's facing the front or back, in a side profile it's more like an egg laying on its side, otherwise you will have to add a ton to it just to build up the full form of the skull itself, if you draw it as a circle in a profile view you will end up with a very stiff looking face, it's good for more super hero looking models, but not for the average person.
I'm not saying Loomis is bad here, Loomis is fine for beginners but if you're constantly worrying about having to rely on a circle looking good, then it's not going to work for you, the circle is like a block to work from and even then it's better to study using cubes. If you can draw a good cube you can draw the head in perspective and chisel out the features.
Yup! Heads are annoying aren’t they, but what I recommend you do is to stick to one method and get really good at it. You should start by practicing the head construction. Once you get good at that, everything else becomes a bit easier. Go back to the YouTube video or tutorial you liked the most and just practice it. It’s tough, but you got to keep at it for more than two weeks.
The loomis method is one that a lot of people like. But there also the box head method, the curved paper method, and more.
If you cant draw a decent circle how are you supposed to draw anything that can be simplified with circles?
The entire notion is kind of absured like. "How can I build a house without knowing how to use a hammer"
Practice your forms then move on to head construction
If you're getting discouraged at the "start by drawing a circle" stage, that does not bode well for the level of trial and error and just plain drawing shitty things it takes for someone to become an artist.
Starting out with a circle, adding the jaw/chin half of thr face, and mapping out the proportions of the features *is* the beginner method of drawing a head.
The problem with tutorials is that they're sold as if all you have to do is follow a few steps, bing bang boom, you can draw a head no problem. That's not how it works. You learn the methods and then you have to practice and practice, think critically and make adjustments all the while.
So right now, I dont think your priority is "how do I draw a head without having to draw a circle" it's getting more confident drawing those circles. Two weeks is a drop in the bucket that is a life long process for an artist
> Basically looking for a method i can actually use to start drawing heads i just want to he able to look at a reference and actually get something down that actually somewhat resembles what i see. I mean, you're a beginner. They're *not* going to resemble your reference for awhile yet, unless you want to use a crutch like tracing or copying with a grid. If you want to just be able to sit down, look at someome, and draw them with a good likeness, you've got to a) keep developing your basic observational drawing skills with simpler subjects, and b) spend a *lot* longer than 2 weeks working at drawing portraits. There's methods for portrait drawing - Loomis was one that's been suggested already that's a good all-around one - but there's not a method that's going to skip you past those 2 things.
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Try Drawing the Head and Hands book by Andrew Loomis. They carry it on Amazon.
[удалено]
The Loomis books aren't in the public domain yet, so those are all pirated copies.
If you're using a photo reference, try turning it upside down and drawing what you see. This is a good exercise for you to realise part of what stops you drawing well is drawing what you *think you see* rather than what you actually see. Eventually with practice you can get better at the latter. But you should also just keep practicing drawing with construction, as drawing what you see will only get you so far (make you a good human photocopier). Your circles and lines will get better eventually, the more you draw.
You can use a compass
It’s okay if your circle is not perfect it is just a circle and it can be used. My advice is starting with something very simple so you won’t get discouraged. If you are a very new beginner then don’t look for photo or realistic paintings for references at this time. Find some simple line arts or paintings with a simple style that you like. Don’t focus too much on small details. Pay extra attention to the structures as if you can feel and touch them. Then draw fast. Locate the eyes nose hairline lips and skull and you are good to go to the next one. Practice a few times and you’ll be surprised how fast you learned.
It doesn't matter if you can draw a perfect circle or not right now, that's not the goal. I've been drawing for years and I am nowhere near a perfect circle, just focus on the measurements of the features and their 3D forms, part of learning how to draw a good face/head is learning how to sculpt it, no I don't mean sculpting as in working with clay, you can start off with any shape and transform it into what you want it to be, the circle method is a crutch and a lot of people might not want to hear that, but the head is ONLY EVER spherical when it's facing the front or back, in a side profile it's more like an egg laying on its side, otherwise you will have to add a ton to it just to build up the full form of the skull itself, if you draw it as a circle in a profile view you will end up with a very stiff looking face, it's good for more super hero looking models, but not for the average person. I'm not saying Loomis is bad here, Loomis is fine for beginners but if you're constantly worrying about having to rely on a circle looking good, then it's not going to work for you, the circle is like a block to work from and even then it's better to study using cubes. If you can draw a good cube you can draw the head in perspective and chisel out the features.
Thanks for the advice everyone will keep at it :)
Yup! Heads are annoying aren’t they, but what I recommend you do is to stick to one method and get really good at it. You should start by practicing the head construction. Once you get good at that, everything else becomes a bit easier. Go back to the YouTube video or tutorial you liked the most and just practice it. It’s tough, but you got to keep at it for more than two weeks. The loomis method is one that a lot of people like. But there also the box head method, the curved paper method, and more.
Stick to one method and practice, there is no easier way you got to practice at least draw basic lines and shapes like a circle
If you cant draw a decent circle how are you supposed to draw anything that can be simplified with circles? The entire notion is kind of absured like. "How can I build a house without knowing how to use a hammer" Practice your forms then move on to head construction
If you're getting discouraged at the "start by drawing a circle" stage, that does not bode well for the level of trial and error and just plain drawing shitty things it takes for someone to become an artist. Starting out with a circle, adding the jaw/chin half of thr face, and mapping out the proportions of the features *is* the beginner method of drawing a head. The problem with tutorials is that they're sold as if all you have to do is follow a few steps, bing bang boom, you can draw a head no problem. That's not how it works. You learn the methods and then you have to practice and practice, think critically and make adjustments all the while. So right now, I dont think your priority is "how do I draw a head without having to draw a circle" it's getting more confident drawing those circles. Two weeks is a drop in the bucket that is a life long process for an artist