How to find out what drawing skills you are missing

Artworks for critique from Danielle,
Drawing Academy and Anatomy Master Class student

Hi,

I am working on the Anatomy Master Class course. I am on lessons “How to draw a portrait”, drawing the head from the neck-shoulders up.

I find that I cannot quite render the right proportions of the head. I think it has to do with the circumference of the base of the neck oval, then the length of the clavicle. I cannot get this right.

Could you enlighten me on what I am doing wrong and how to correct it?



Many thanks,
Danielle

Hi Danielle,
 
Many thanks for your portrait drawings.
 
Your drawings are good. Many artists would love to have your drawing skills.
 
Nevertheless, every sketch has mistakes, like the front view of the shoulders combined with a 3/4 view of the head, the placement of the eye that is farther from the viewer, and so on.
 
The way you draw makes me think that there are gaps in constructive drawing knowledge and practice.
 
If you want to ensure that your level of drawing skills allows you to make proportionate and constructively sound portraits, could you please do the following?

Arrange a simple still life consisting of a vase, a bowl and a box and draw it from life in graphite pencil on a piece of A2-size paper.
 
You must do it from life. Do not use any photos; do not cheat yourself. It is about your real-life drawing skills, not how good the artwork will be. 
 
Send me a photo of your drawing. Take the photo at the right angle without distortion, making sure the edges of the paper are visible.
 
After you are done (not before you complete the drawing), also take a photo of the still life you arranged from the point where you saw it when drawing. Send it along with your photo of the drawing.
 
I will advise you on what to do to fix your troubles with portraits after that.
 
Please take your time, there’s no rush.
 
Kind regards,
 
Vladimir London
Art tutor

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