How I Finally Got Good at Drawing the Face - 3 Tips that took me out of Beginner Hell

Summary

In this art tutorial, Ori shares their journey from struggling with facial drawing to mastering it through dedicated practice. They offer three key tips: 'The Box Method' for accurate facial structure, drawing head turnarounds to understand 3D form, and studying anatomy for a deeper understanding of the head's structure. Ori emphasizes the importance of not just relying on 3D tools but understanding the fundamentals to improve art quality and consistency.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The artist Ori used to struggle with drawing faces but has since improved by practicing and focusing on specific weak points.
• 🏔 Ori took a two-month break to focus on training and improving their facial drawing skills, which led to a significant improvement in their art.
• 📈 After the focused practice, Ori's art received more positive feedback, with one piece getting over 20,000 likes on Twitter.
• 📌 The 'Box Method' is introduced as a technique to help visualize the head in 3D, which helps avoid drawing illusions and correctly place facial features.
• 👀 Ori emphasizes the importance of the center and side lines when using the Box Method to align facial elements and understand foreshortening.
• 🔄 The artist suggests drawing head turnarounds to understand the 3D structure of the face and improve the accuracy of facial feature placement.
• 🧠 Studying anatomy is recommended to provide a foundational understanding of the head's structure, which can greatly enhance drawing skills, even in stylized art.
• 📚 Ori recommends 'Anatomy for Sculptors' as a valuable resource for learning anatomy, noting its visual explanations and organization.
• 💻 While 3D tools can aid in drawing, Ori argues that a solid understanding of anatomy and structure is essential to use these tools effectively and not rely on them excessively.
• 🔁 The video encourages viewers to practice and revisit studies to deepen their understanding in rounds, suggesting a medium level of anatomical knowledge is ideal for most artists.

Q & A

What was the main struggle the artist Ori faced in their early art journey?

The main struggle Ori faced was drawing faces correctly, as they felt it was their biggest weakness and something they really struggled with.

How did Ori overcome their frustration with their lack of skill in drawing faces?

Ori overcame their frustration by going off to the mountains to train intensively, focusing on their specific weak points and practicing drawing faces and figures.

What was the turning point for Ori in terms of receiving positive feedback on their art?

The turning point was when Ori posted a piece after two months of intensive practice, which received over 20,000 likes on Twitter, marking the first time they felt their art was consistently high in quality.

What are the three best tips Ori learned for drawing faces?

The three best tips are: 1) The Box Method, 2) Drawing head turnarounds, and 3) Studying anatomy.

How does the Box Method help in drawing faces?

The Box Method helps by providing a 3D perspective guide, allowing artists to avoid drawing illusions and correctly place facial features by thinking of the head as a box with defined front, side, and top planes.

What is the significance of drawing head turnarounds in Ori's art improvement process?

Drawing head turnarounds solidified the 3D form of the head in Ori's mind, helping them understand the structure and nuances from different angles, which significantly improved the accuracy of facial features' positions.

Why did Ori initially resist learning anatomy for the head?

Ori initially resisted learning anatomy because they thought that since their art was 2D and stylized, there was no need to learn the underlying anatomy.

How did studying anatomy impact Ori's art?

Studying anatomy had a significant impact on Ori's art by providing a deeper understanding of the structure of the head, which greatly improved their ability to stylize in a way that looks natural and believable.

What is Ori's opinion on the use of 3D models in art?

Ori believes that 3D models are not a replacement for understanding anatomy but are tools to help apply that understanding. They emphasize that a solid understanding of the structure is necessary to know when to follow or adjust the 3D model.

What book does Ori recommend for studying anatomy for artists?

Ori recommends the book 'Anatomy for Sculptors' for its easy-to-understand visuals and well-organized content, making it simple to find the needed references.

How does Ori rate the time investment and EXP points for each of the three tips?

Ori rates the Box Method as 1 out of 3 stars for time investment and 2 stars for EXP points. Drawing head turnarounds is rated 1-2 stars for time investment and 3 stars for EXP points. Studying anatomy is rated 1-3 stars for time investment and 2.5 stars for EXP points.