Composition Sketching - How You Should Start Every Drawing

Award-winning artist Mikhail Solovev shows you how to create a compositional sketch in the Russian academic style. These sketches are a key part of the Russian academic process, and begin by focusing on the silhouette to get a good idea of the compositional elements of light and shadow in your piece. If you’re interested in learning more about how to draw in a Russian academic style check out Mikhail’s course - proko.com/solovev
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ABOUT PROKO:
Instructional How to Draw videos for artists. My drawing lessons are approachable enough for beginners and detailed enough for advanced artists. My philosophy is to teach timeless concepts in an entertaining way. I believe that when you are having fun, you learn better. I take pride in producing high quality videos that you will enjoy watching and re-watching.
CREDITS:
Artist | Instructor - Mikhail Solovev ( / mikesol.art )
Producer - Stan Prokopenko (www.stanprokope...), Sean Ramsey (www.peoplewhodr...),
Script - Mikhail Solovev
English Audio Narration - Leon Okun (www.leonokun.com/)
Editing - Dzmitry Tsydzik, Sean Ramsey, Stephen Clark (www.peppermintgentleman.com),
Music Used with Permission
Intro - The Freak Fandango Orchestra
Additional music by Epidemic Sound

[@ProkoTV]

Learn about drawing in a Russian Academic art style at proko.com/solovev

[@jomorkenstrseth3526]

I make a Squint-sketch, determining the dynamics and direction of light. Squinting helps me establish these things quickly

[@smokelikeahippi4538]

I’ve been drawing my whole life and never thought to do this, but I just did it and it works 😑.

[@r.halder1810]

I don't get it

[@wulfseig1864]

I do this as well. Especially when there's a lot of color involved. It also helps me see depth, shadows and light.

[@smokelikeahippi4538]

@@r.halder1810 you can squint and it kinda blurs the image, but you can see the difference between dark tones, light tones and mid tones. I haven’t tried it with color (I tend to only do b&w) but I assume it’d be the same. Just pick out darker color tones from lighter ones

[@kelkanta]

handicapping eyesight to see better.

[@benplant7119]

Damn his english is good. It would be awesome if you could get more Russian artists like Ivan Loginov. Russian art is so amazing yet so hard to find education for outside of Russia.

[@jugaadoorohin4348]

The kanagawa has earned you my respect

[@sundos.3]

I had a drawing teacher who graduated form Repin Academy, and I can tell you he’s still one of the fewest good teachers I met. He taught me the very fundamentals of drawing that I can nearly draw anything with the keys he gave me. He also used to ask us to drawing compositional sketched just like this video 😅 they really make the actual drawing easier.

[@felesfidelis]

you know, Proko is Russian himself, right? I suppose. He is Stanislav Propokenko, after all. He is certainly Russian -- by birthplace or only by parents, idk

[@sundos.3]

Ksenia Serebrenikova I have always thought he is American!

[@shayon8012]

@@felesfidelis he is ukrainian

[@ChrisGurin]

A lightbulb just appeared over my head watching this, and I wonder why I’ve never heard of this before - from any source. My breath caught when I realized why every drawing, portrait, landscape, still-life, I always “got lost”. The silhouettes within the silhouette solves so many problems. Thank you.

[@studiobrushpen]

A simple and powerful explanation! I definitely agree with drawing a frame to begin a sketch. I have found it helpful with keeping everything in proportion. But I’d never really thought about drawing with silhouettes before. And that last tip about learning from artists near your own level was so interesting. Thank you!

[@robross8740]

What Mikhail said at 7:42 is probably the best advice I've ever heard for any form of art in general

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

I agree! It's true for creative writers, too. Trying to be Dickens or Shakespeare, not a good idea. But learning the craft from lesser, yet still solid authors, a much better idea.

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

I agree! It's true for creative writers, too. Trying to be Dickens or Shakespeare, not a good idea. But learning the craft from lesser, yet still solid authors, a much better idea.

[@dabblerofmost]

So much wisdom and very eloquently explained!

[@wulfseig1864]

Awesome advice. I understood completely the reason for this step after you described why you should add it to your drawing process. Thanks for sharing this information.

[@nordindelosreyes3473]

him drawing in that small area with such detail.. I was in awe the whole time.

[@Fink-id6yg]

Thank you. I think this will connect some major dots in practice.

[@Msannamitta]

Ever see those paintings there? My dad and I had great discussions about the artworks. Its a great education! You can't pass it up!

[@thenut357]

Extremely helpful

[@nianz1322]

Amazing video as always . Just a little request , i am trying to study clothed figures now a days and i am totally lost .i find it really hard to do the proper measurements of the figures once the landmarkz are hidden by the fabrics also shoes can be quite tough at times . I hope you will do a video addressing the problen in future .Always thankful for the amazing tutorials.

[@reddworld7074]

me encantan sus videos poco a poco voy mejorando gracias

[@stratovolcano7813]

Beautiful!! Im trying to learn how to keep it simple initially, then build onto it. Im too impatient 😭

[@KOPO-j8d]

Hi from iraq..hope everyone doing well ❤

[@mohammadbaqer8305]

+١

[@JosephTPorter]

That dude is crazy good at sitting still

[@vllad74]

WOW. I have been waiting for this for a long time. Thanks!

[@khynnanrodrigues6726]

This previous sketch is better than my finished drawing. 😂😂

[@marvlised]

Shout out to the dude who sat perfectly still for hours on end

[@wellcometogulag1887]

probably one of ma favorite artist here

[@musharratalia901]

Great help thanks I just started making portraits in my art school and my works were really looks Like an immature one!

[@hardlyboiled]

this spoke to my soul

[@fluffykarrot4078]

this really helped me out .thanks

[@mightypigeon836]

I red the title and came here thinking “You don’t tell me what to do!” And left thinking to myself “oh alright”

[@ardenhutchins9572]

This was extremely helpful and amazing to watch

[@CrowClouds]

This is exactly what I needed to see ty

[@beginnerartvlog8831]

THANK YOU

[@buzungo8297]

I'm implementing this in my new project, thanks for the video :D

[@tracyhindibiedatnadi]

Thank youuu. Is very helpfull ❤

[@calvingoodall2065]

Dude! Your model is amazing! He sat completely still non-blinking for like, 7 whole minutes!

[@sanjanart5045]

This was a really useful video thank you

[@andrewwhite4348]

Russians don’t mess around! Respect!

[@thaithinhthoang10]

Yes I like. Thank you very much

[@abandonedaccount747]

Incredibly helpful vid

[@speedycube3239]

this is very helpful, thank you.

[@joelgo13]

The sketch has a better likeness than the finished graphite...

[@theodorealenas3171]

I almost always like sketches better. When a twitter artist posts a work-in-progress sketch, I'm amazed, and then I see the final drawing and it's disappointing how powerless it looks. I want to develop an art style that looks like sketching, over time.

[@theodorealenas3171]

Oh... Maybe I'm not the only one since I got 5 likes

[@You-th3cn]

@@theodorealenas3171 i agree so much! thats sort of my art style’s main goal tbh… i hate when a refined looking drawing just slips into “blahh” but i still want to be skilled 😹

[@lefthandstory1280]

Beautiful😍❤️✌️so nice

[@madurandoafuerza6122]

I love this new video

[@radhagoyal3606]

Thanks for advices.

[@uncleatelier8495]

Wow, you're really incredible. ~~^^🧡🧡💛💛

[@drawingwithyusuf]

Thanks.. 🙏💞

[@Cernunnnos]

I should practice composition like this. My light and shadow is often really low contrast because I focus too much on details and outlines. This might help me break that.

[@donoibagere5057]

Upping the contrast of your drawings changes a lot just learnt it recently.

[@Cernunnnos]

@@donoibagere5057 yea it's something I'm always drawn to in other people's work, but I struggle with it.

[@donoibagere5057]

@@Cernunnnos well with this video you are headed in the right direction. Though the way I learnt to increase contrast, was to draw the darks first and compare them, do the halftones next and then finish with the lighter tones. I am still learning though.

[@adarshapandey4873]

like and comment for the algorithm. Everyone needs to know!

[@angelruizrisueno2729]

Fantástico vídeo, una pena que no esté en español, y el curso tampoco.

[@padamvara]

Nice video.. ❤️ love from India

[@theevn7]

Thanks

[@philroydias5366]

Loved the video 😍👌

[@shuvoDhar.5537]

Great😍😍👍👍👍👍👍 ❤

[@samankucher5117]

Awesome

[@susiesrainbows4493]

Thanks, I needed this - I'm a lazy artist.

[@Stargrazerone]

yes

[@ejsbxbeiaskd1770]

This was a really interesting video, but I couldn't concentrate at all! The model is so beautiful, I couldn't help staring at him 😂😂

[@carcrashheart]

Silhouettes for everything: Got it

[@guywithasukapfp7835]

I'd like to see u guys review the art of arcaneeee

[@vishtem33]

maybe I missed it, but what is the rough size of this particular frame? I would guess A7ish (7x10 cm), which is good for silhouette, but personally I like something very small ( A9/A10) for solving other aspects (gross proportions and overall tonal impression). Well, I guess that would be another unwanted step, to the people this video is targeted at.

[@gracieladosantos7806]

👏👏👏

[@rarityandSElover]

Hi, may I know what is the pencil used here?

[@raphraph1873]

I understand that this demo is focusing on composiional search and everything, but the final portrait doesn't look like model at all. isn't likeness one of goals you must achieve in head drawing? why not to draw an abstract scheme of head or a plaster cast if likeness doesn't matter for this class?

[@fryzsolisgonzales762]

Might be silly but I’ve been drawing awhile but now more with charcoal pencils and my lead is constantly breaking when being sharpened lol help if u can give any tips

[@Sam-su9zv]

What's the music🎶

[@cooey3004]

What is the background music you used

[@seanramsey]

The first song is "Camille Saint-Saëns - Aquarium"

[@seanramsey]

And the second is called "Tchaikovsky Quartet 1"

[@skully959]

hell yeah

[@khunagueroagnis2558]

Who is the character in your profile picture? It looks familiar but I don't know what anime it is from

[@PortgasDAce-jp4cq]

@@khunagueroagnis2558 hyouka or another KyoAni anime

[@user-hl7rd1hk1h]

حلو

[@rodrigohurtado3011]

It was traced right?

[@jugaadoorohin4348]

21 minutes ago...I am on time almost

[@virgilcelis1831]

guy didnt even blink once, wow.

[@P4boot]

Nice lesson but the final drawing doesn’t really look like the guy. Unless thats not the main point. The shading is awesome!

[@Welther47]

I think it would be nice if he had actually drawn the model; it's not even close to capturing the features. 6:57

[@elienefranca3472]

No desenho a figura humana é a mais difícil de fazer. Eu conheci um garoto que desenhava com uma facilidade divina eu não sei se ele terminou bastante. E era rápido inteligentes bonita bonito amigo de escola. Era Albino e dizem que albino não enxergam bem ,acho que é mentira.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

I thought Loomis method is most useful...this is another perspective of silhouettes....nice..but for initial sketch I still think Loomis method is easiest

[@portnoyrlz14]

Since when is Thor a sketch artist?

[@rick_pedroza]

Noice

[@phononai]

sWEET

[@joelpaul2703]

I guess first

[@josephrobillard7098]

There is no likeness of the drawing to the model

[@da5idnz]

Great video. His nose looks too short to me tho

[@jofromdaglo6601]

So you wasn’t gonna fix that top line

[@raphaelquintero177]

I was typing "first" but I lost

[@sakerberg4512]

ploco

[@ilyesadam9441]

thumbnail : messi if he was gay

[@ellyblisidu1516]

Εαν δει καποιος μονο το σχεδιο ,νομιζει οτι ειναι 50 χρονων,αλλα το μοντελο ειναι 30 περιπου! Οι σκιτσογραφοι,κανουν πολλες φορες το μοντελο ,να φαινεται πιο ωραιο κ πιο νεο.Αλλες φορες παλι ,δειχνει μεγαλυτερο απο την ηλικια του.Γιατι συμβαινει αυτο? η φωτοσκιαση ειδικα στο μαγουλο του προσθετει 10 χρονια, γιατι φαινεται σαν βαθια ρυτιδα απο τον χρονο κ οχι σκια.Ισως παιζει ρολο η ενταση των φωτοσκιασεων.Θαυμαζω τους σκιτσογρφους ομως!

[@jamesariescopioso8841]

Ethan becker : "draw from professionals" meanwhile this guy : draw from student 😐😐

[@vishtem33]

pros 'hide their working methods', which gives the desired impression of seamlessness.. Trying just to imitate that loses sight of the fact that typically a lot of design and direction work went into it, most of which was thrown away. The student, IME, most needs to develop these skills which the pro commits to concealing. So..

[@cuchuloholic]

nuh uh