Week 5: Proportion and Measuring Techniques
IN THIS LESSON
Objective: In this lesson, you will learn and practice drawing exercises designed to help you achieve accurate proportions in your artwork. These exercises will improve your observational skills, enhance your understanding of relative measurements, and develop your ability to maintain consistent proportions.
Materials Needed:
Drawing paper (preferably A4 size or larger)
Graphite pencils (HB, 2B)
Erasers
Rulers or measuring tape
A few simple objects for still life (e.g., a bottle, a fruit, a small box)
A mirror (for self-portrait exercises)
Lesson Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Introduction (10 minutes):
Discussion: Let’s start with a brief discussion on the importance of accurate proportion in drawing.
Explain how proportion affects the realism and balance of a composition.
Show examples of drawings with good and poor proportions to illustrate the impact.
Objective: Here’s what we’ll aim to achieve today.
Develop your ability to measure and maintain accurate proportions.
Practice exercises that reinforce your understanding of relative size and scale.
Warm-Up Exercise (10 minutes):
Basic Measurement Practice: Grab your paper, pencils, and ruler.
Spend a few minutes measuring and drawing simple geometric shapes (squares, rectangles) with accurate proportions.
Focus on using the ruler to ensure precise measurements.
Main Activity (60 minutes):
Exercise 1: Grid Drawing (20 minutes):
Setup: Choose a simple reference image or still life object.
Lightly draw a grid over your reference image or object and your drawing paper (e.g., 1-inch squares).
Drawing: Use the grid to accurately transfer the reference image to your drawing paper.
Focus on matching the proportions of each square on the grid.
Goal: Develop your ability to break down complex images into manageable parts and maintain accurate proportions.
Exercise 2: Comparative Measurement Drawing (20 minutes):
Setup: Select a simple still life object (e.g., a bottle).
Use your pencil to measure the height of the object and compare it to other dimensions (e.g., width).
Drawing: Draw the object using comparative measurements to maintain accurate proportions.
Constantly check and compare different parts of the object as you draw.
Goal: Improve your ability to observe and compare relative sizes and distances.
Exercise 3: Self-Portrait with Mirror (20 minutes):
Setup: Position yourself in front of a mirror with your drawing paper and pencil.
Drawing: Create a self-portrait by measuring and comparing facial features (e.g., the width of an eye compared to the distance between the eyes).
Focus on maintaining accurate proportions throughout the drawing.
Goal: Enhance your observational skills and ability to capture accurate proportions in complex subjects.
Conclusion and Review (10 minutes):
Group Discussion:
Share your drawings and discuss what you learned from each exercise.
Talk about which exercises you found most challenging and which you enjoyed the most.
Homework/Extension:
Practice drawing objects from life using the grid method and comparative measurements at home.
Focus on maintaining accurate proportions in different types of objects and compositions.
Assessment:
I’ll evaluate you based on your participation, effort, and your ability to measure and maintain accurate proportions.
I’ll provide feedback on your observational skills and drawing accuracy.
Tips for Success:
Use Light Guidelines: Lightly sketch guidelines to help maintain accurate proportions before committing to darker lines.
Check Measurements Regularly: Regularly check and compare your measurements as you draw to ensure accuracy.
Practice Observing: Spend time observing your subject and comparing different parts before starting to draw.
Be Patient: Developing accurate proportion skills takes time and consistent practice, so be patient with yourself.
By the end of this lesson, you’ll have improved your ability to measure and maintain accurate proportions in your drawings, leading to more realistic and balanced compositions.