Is This the Best Way to Draw People from Imagination?

Summary

In this detailed review, the creator discusses Tom Fox's 'Drawing People from Imagination' course, sharing their experience with the course content. They reflect on essential lessons like the basic box mannequin, setting up scenes from imagination, and clothing figures, while also noting some sections that were less helpful. Key takeaways include the importance of practicing beyond the course, seeking supplementary resources, and being patient with the learning process. The review covers both the pros and cons, concluding with a recommendation for those willing to put in the extra effort to enhance their skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 The course focuses on the basics of drawing people from imagination, with a strong emphasis on understanding 3D space and figure positioning.
• 😀 The box mannequin is a key takeaway from the course, helping beginners understand character structure and creating a useful tool for drawing from imagination.
• 😀 Advanced mannequin lessons were not as useful for the user and were skipped, as the added details in the torso and pelvis areas were not as necessary when drawing clothed figures.
• 😀 The silhouette and contour line section was skipped by the user as they felt it was unnecessary, already being part of their drawing process in earlier lessons.
• 😀 The section on drawing folds was helpful but required additional practice to translate into drawing clothing effectively, highlighting a potential gap in beginner learning.
• 😀 The course provided valuable lessons on how to position figures in scenes, especially using star-shaped figures and horizon lines to set up compositions from imagination.
• 😀 Anatomy lessons, including adding muscles and contour lines, were not fully explored by the user, as they found drawing clothing more relevant for their practice.
• 😀 The course lacked detailed instruction on drawing heads and hands, leading the user to seek external resources for more comprehensive learning in these areas.
• 😀 Assignments in the course were helpful but sometimes lacked sufficient examples to guide practice, requiring the user to find additional references independently.
• 😀 The course’s price point was a pro, with options for as little as $1 or even free with promotional trials, though the user opted to pay the full $20 for it.
• 😀 While the course was useful, the user’s final verdict was that it was average. It provided valuable fundamentals but required extra effort and supplementary resources to truly master the material.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the course 'Basic Principles of Drawing People from Imagination' by Tom Fox?

The course focuses on teaching the fundamentals of drawing people from imagination, starting with basic principles like figure positioning and box mannequins, and progressing to more complex aspects like clothing, anatomy, and scene setup.

What is the most important takeaway from the course, according to the reviewer?

The reviewer emphasizes the basic box mannequin as the most important takeaway, noting that it became an essential tool for nearly all of their drawing practices.

Which section of the course did the reviewer skip and why?

The reviewer skipped the sections on silhouette and contour lines, as they felt these concepts were either redundant or unnecessary, especially after practicing them previously in other ways.

What was the reviewer’s experience with the section on basic folds?

The reviewer found the basic folds section useful, but noted that translating the fold techniques to clothing on a figure was challenging and took additional practice.

How did the reviewer feel about the course’s focus on anatomy and muscle definition?

The reviewer found the course's treatment of anatomy and muscle detail to be insufficient for their needs and opted to skip this part, preferring to focus on clothing the figure instead.

What was the significance of the scene setup portion of the course for the reviewer?

The reviewer found the scene setup lessons particularly helpful, as they helped improve their ability to position characters in a believable and effective manner when working from imagination.

Did the reviewer use external resources to supplement the course, and why?

Yes, the reviewer sought external resources, especially for topics like drawing heads and hands, which they felt were not covered in enough detail in the course.

What is the pricing model of the course, and how does it compare to other courses?

The course is priced at $19.99 USD, though it can be accessed for as low as $0.99 with a membership or sometimes for free during promotional trials. The reviewer noted the affordability as a major pro.

What were the pros of the course as highlighted by the reviewer?

The pros included the course's affordability, strong foundational structure, and its ability to boost skills in setting up scenes and drawing from imagination, provided the learner is willing to put in extra effort.

What were the cons of the course, according to the review?

The cons included the course's overly basic explanations in some areas, particularly around folds and anatomy, which required learners to seek additional resources for a more complete understanding.

Would the reviewer recommend the course to others, and why?

Yes, the reviewer would recommend the course, but with the caveat that it’s best suited for those who are willing to put in extra work and seek supplementary resources to fill in gaps left by the course.