Doing THIS Made My Line Quality Improve Drastically

When I was a full time student, the thing that helped me improve my line quality the most was doing master studies. In this lesson I'll show you how to approach a study of one of Jeff Watt's skulls. This is not to replicate it exactly, but rather to learn from Jeff’s technique and decision-making process. By studying a master, we can gain insights into their line quality, shape design, and overall approach to drawing. If you enjoyed this demo I did another study of Roberto De La Torre which you can find in the premium course at proko.com/drawing
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How to Draw Confident Lines - The Tapered Stroke - • How to Draw Confident ...
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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 - Stan Prokopenko (www.stanprokope...)
Producer - Stan Prokopenko, Sean Ramsey (www.peoplewhodr...),
Script - Stan Prokopenko, Tiffanie Mang (tiffaniemang.com/)
Production Assistance - Stephen Clark (www.peppermint... , Sean Ramsey, Charlie Nicholson
Editing - Hongju Lim (www.hongjulim...., Sean Ramsey, Stan Prokopenko
Publishing - Alex Otis, John Birchall
Music Used with Permission
Intro - The Freak Fandango Orchestra
Additional music by Epidemic Sound

[@ProkoTV]

If you enjoyed this demo, I did another study of Roberto De La Torre which you can find in the premium course at proko.com/drawing

[@theinker6749]

I am going to master studies urs because i likeu as my master, teacher, instructor, and a friend i guess😅 😊

[@burningarmadillo5457]

i know what im doing tonight

[@dearfreestylemove]

❤

[@delanmorstik7619]

This video really lack shor descriptive summary. After watching 22 min video you expect 1-2 summary that states I learned 1. 2. 3. That would be really helpful. Cus this format is very time consuming.

[@dearfreestylemove]

@@delanmorstik7619 🙂🙂🙂

[@praneetakki]

If Proko himself finds it difficult to study Jeff then imagine the plight of us beginners, Amazing study by the way.

[@rowlanddavid1576]

Not really. I think it's equally as hard for anyone to study a pro's drawing, cause like he said, the goal is to replicate, but to learn.

[@dearfreestylemove]

😮

[@pancakemogul]

An empty cup is easier to fill than a full one.

[@PornEqualsHappiness]

Honestly it made me more hopeful. It allowed me to see that even the pros like proko have trouble. It's not a beginner problem it's just a human problem and I love that!

[@RoddVeiler]

I can see how he’s exaggerating

[@asmamohammed150]

Every time I get frustrated with drawing, I watch proko with a cup of tea , just resting my mind and hand , it works very well 🤝🏼❤️

[@thierryjacquart-ducharme4681]

Currently going through the online program at Watts, your breakdown of his execution is both encouraging and helpful. Also glad to see that the struggle to study Jeff's drawings is a thing shared at all levels, he is such a great artist and teacher. Thank you for this insightful video, it's always a pleasure to see your process

[@dearfreestylemove]

❤

[@MrHydeArt]

I love watching these types of videos. It shows that although Stan is a teacher, he’s never done learning. So when I get frustrated with certain things in my art or certain processes I remind myself that even the professionals have a hard time and they’re always learning

[@aliceangel6538]

The original skull drawing looks so perfect !! I really wanna try this skull drawing!! Btw your skull drawing looks more happy then the original one😅Thank you for the video!!🥰

[@shegsdev]

Lol looks like it's grinning 😀

[@stevehutch]

A new Proko video. That’s made my day.

[@darandellaanimationstudio]

After watching this, I feel like I'm going to do some art studies of my favorite artists. Love your videos.

[@aimsanimations2905]

This is really odd but I just checked your channel, could you draw yato from noragami? I love demon slayer too 😁

[@darandellaanimationstudio]

@@aimsanimations2905 It's Ok. I tried my best. 😅 kzbin.infofPJ_ow4eeDU?feature=share

[@aimsanimations2905]

Thanks a million

[@kirasunnight]

"The more you know, the more you're gonna hate your drawing" That was so true xD

[@JH-pe3ro]

While I haven't watched Jeff in action(and watching someone is really important to replicating their motor patterns because we are literally talking about the monkey-see-monkey-do part of drawing) I would wager that the reason why he can get thin and thick is because his grip is changing repeatedly. This is something I started to pick up on when inking with disposable brush pens because the value doesn't vary there, only weight, so it becomes natural to start thinking, "thin line, hold it upright, thick line, grip it on the side". If I were doing the study I'd also be using tracing paper to isolate things even further towards replicating the line.

[@ericpeterson535]

this was really awesome to watch, before I started to watch proko I wathed the wattsatelier channel and Jeff's quick sketches inspired me to try drawing seriously I really appreciate what you're doing here

[@garrettdrawing7711]

Love the explanation behind your study! super helpful! Thank you, thank you!

[@LisaTrunkenbolz]

This is a great video! Wonderful advice. Whenever I watch these new videos I am re-inspired!

[@angierodriguezcastellini6980]

It is really interesting cause i can see now that every artists has his own line quality like your own style or own language that is when you copy a master it's a copy and not your own drawing/painting i have super sharp thin lines naturally and i can see that now but i have a hardtime with the thick big soft lines

[@mashab.234]

After you pointed this out - the left side really does seem to be in shadow: the shapes of teeth on the left are more simplified compared to the right side, just like the upper-jaw shapes; and that unidentified shape on the left temple might be reflected light?.. So cool!! Wouldn’t have noticed myself

[@AshRuiz]

Nice! New Proko video.

[@paulpesonen]

Really enjoyed drawing along with this one !

[@icandointernets]

Starting to think I’m going to have to get some courses soon, 🤔maybe an early early Christmas present to myself…… your videos, and podcast, are rekindling my passion for illustration. And with that…a hunger for moar knowledge!

[@izabelconceicao-vd6ix]

Thank youu! It's so good to see you drawing.

[@screamfingers]

13:06 holy shit its like youre speaking directly to me. I started doing digital and downloaded a bunch of info about gesture, structure, rhythm etc. quickly thanks to crtl-z and now I am trying to have a go at with charcoal it feels like I am starting all over again. MY DRAWINGS LOOK CRAP NOW. traditional art devs need to implement an undo feature

[@masonthecoyote]

i love how when i need help in a certain subject they upload a video about it

[@aceman5905]

Gotta say this video opened a whole new chapter of things for me to study🍷🗿

[@leemander]

Jeff Watts is a flipping legend

[@SharminAkter-sl6vp]

I know right?

[@yssimon9058]

Proko, your drawings are excellent, and you don't need to be so nervous to draw this. Anyway thanks for doing this for us!

[@scenepunk09]

Jeff's line style reminds me of sumi paintings or caligraphy. And seem to be drawn alot like how check marks are made. Quick with heavy pressure gradually rising from the paper. Probably takes alot of confidence in his accuracy of line quality.

[@artfuldrawing]

drawing with a well developed vision help build my line quality

[@اسامةالنماري-ث5ظ]

يبدو انه رسم شيء يحبه و اراد ان يظهر جماله ، ثم انه اختار اجمل نسب وقياسات للجمجمة وهذا ماجعلها جميلة ، كما تعلم الوجه الجميل له تفاصيل خاصة وساحرة ، ايضا الجمجمة ، يبدو ان لديه هوس وحب للجماجم ثم رسمها بافضل حالاتها ، ❤

[@jin_cotl]

Awesome stuff. I learn to draw a skull today 😀😀 thanks so much

[@tylerbowendesigns4089]

I've never been able to sharpen the charcoal pencil like that, I just went and bought a lead holder but I'd like to figure that out eventually without destroying my decent quality art supplies.

[@michael5045]

Sandpaper, or a nail file, or metal file are all great. Use a exacto knife or razor blade (I like exacto knifes/box cutters more) to remove the wood around the charcoal, then scrape or file the charcoal down.

[@Thestripper1]

Great video Stan! It feels like you are laying down the dark strokes a little too soon. My interpretation is that Jeff constructs with soft and light touch and then goes over to defining with darker stronger strokes, perhaps throwing in an "early" strong line without much scetching when he really "feels" it.

[@daviddoughty4289]

Its funny cause I'm more a painter but when you said try and practice those fundamentals of using your tools before you get all the other knowledge - ha! So true! While my muscle memory has improved so much of my failures came from not being able to wield my brush the way I wanted to! But what is more torturous is knowing everything that is wrong.

[@riho4622]

Thank you Proko

[@mengxiyun9724]

Thanks for this amazing course. I am wondering if it makes differences if I practice my lines on the digital device or it's better to start from pencils and papers as a beginner. It would be great if you could keep uploading these helpful and amazing courses - really appreciate it!

[@jin_cotl]

I used pencils and papers to help

[@justforfun2297]

You just made me wanna study lines in the middle of the night :D

[@genehen6495]

I think that mysterious cross on the cheekbone was planning where the top of the jaw sat behind it

[@kool4209]

You just spoke to my soul @13:06..................

[@Mankemista]

Do more Jeff Watts studies 🫡

[@15clank]

That looks so good

[@AgelessCrown]

I have realized if you put individual lines for the teeth it makes the teeth stand out to much and it also looks weird.

[@fandeandreaarruti]

I'm watching it with spanish subtitles. Thank you.

[@riho4622]

Thanks

[@jin_cotl]

Fr

[@jin_cotl]

😀

[@ho-himxue3746]

Are there any tips to use overhand the grip for charcoal and to get consistent thin lines, my lines always come out very thick

[@Msannamitta]

that's quite interesting very nice-so I came back to watch and follow this demonstration. Wow, i really like this. my lines don't look just like this but they look like something i did only different. I have a sargent drawing out on one of my drawings tables and i don't really want to copy him i just want to get the mood down. this very interesting yah yah i like this.

[@desmonddart5163]

This video just opened my eyes why I have quit drawing😶 I just hate everything I draw these days already after the first strokes. I already know too much about all that, just like you said and I know my dumbass hands wont perform, what I order them to do. So as soon as my pencil touches the paper, I can feel a rage boiling up leading to me getting absolutely furious over my incabability of drawing something beautiful, that I start tossing my drawing equipment through the room to not touch it for another year😔 How do I come back to loving drawing again, when I just feel like the lousiest artist in the world? 😦

[@ProkoTV]

Everyone goes through with their art. Knowing that doesn't make it easier but it does help to know that the people whose work we admire were probably feeling the same thing with those works we feel are so good! Apply a critical eye to your work but remember that it's probably better than you think it is in those moments of self-doubt.

[@API-Beast]

You need to buckle down and study to solve this. I don't mean "practice", I really mean "study", spending every day analytically observing what other artists do in their artwork and trying to imitate them as well as learning every detail about the fundamentals like perspective drawing for example. Only when you combine everything you become better. Art is as more observation than everything else, if you don't observe you don't see your own mistakes and thus, in pure practice, pick up the wrong habits and building bad muscle memory.

[@Trid3nt861]

The Jeff skull sketch looks like it was done with a sharpened pencil of some sort. Probably a HB or 2H

[@pedramtajeddini5100]

You just drew us in less than a 100 years 😮

[@ScarletSky03]

How long did it take you to do this originally? I feel like I sometimes draw too fast or too slow because I'm trying to keep up with what I'm watching or I'm pressuring myself into speeding up or slowing down for one reason or another.

[@Pulapaws]

It not about the timing at all that makes a good drawing. Remember they are tools and not the rules.

[@ScarletSky03]

@Pula Paw I was asking cuz I was curious not because it matters.

[@guillermomelendez7950]

I got the impression that Jeff's lines were purposefully there to exacerbate concave and convex surfaces.

[@jin_cotl]

Yeah! That’s probably it :3

[@luiqor]

Дякую за інформацію, пане Прокопенко

[@AKilogramOfBabySpiders]

I LOVE THIS

[@SharminAkter-sl6vp]

Me too

[@ShirakoriMio]

I think a big difference is that he has some thinner lines and a more often sharpened pencil.

[@Poganhap]

Funny how your are studying a drawing but I’m watching this to study on how to study a drawing

[@MrSongib]

This almost similar to copy the style from certain artist but for different subject. I think it would be beneficial to apply the knowledge on different piece.

[@craftymulligar]

Maybe he was a drafter also. Drafting class the teacher really take points off when accuracy is off what a pain.

[@aigzo]

The top part of the skull looks like a happy Krang from TMNT

[@17th_Colossus]

Very cool

[@danny_decheeto8300]

Is it possible to try and replicate line quality like this on digital

[@SharminAkter-sl6vp]

Sure man

[@ProkoTV]

Absolutely.

[@danny_decheeto8300]

Kk. I really need to work on my line quality rn for digital. It was somewhat ok when I was on paper but since I’ve switched it went down the drain

[@kaksspl]

For better line control you may want to invest in a tablet with tilt sensors.

[@blueskythefox1594]

what to do if you were to draw something and then your hand get shaky?

[@houndgirl7365]

Just some advice dont draw from your hand draw from your arm. Drawing from your hand puts more strain on it that can lead to health issues. If there is a reason your hand becomes shaky perhaps pausing for a moment, ooor maybe let chaos reign and do some gesture draws to learn how to somewhat account for that shakiness. Fast movements are your friend 😊

[@oltharantoniopulvirenti5910]

It looks like the Jeff's drawing was made on a bigger scale

[@crazy541]

Sir ,how to make art short video for KZbin...please help😢

[@angelruizrisueno2729]

Muchas gracias PROKO por este vídeo 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@SharminAkter-sl6vp]

Caught in 3 mins

[@adambacon8353]

My dominant hand is left, so I'm always smearing stuff. You should see the scares on my head

[@Hopischwopi]

So what I got is that we are looking for the thought process and the movement. At least when we are studying construction and line quality. Edit: I think some of the crispness of his lines comes from keeping one continus line. Like that right outer line of the cheekbone from top to where cit flicks out it`s one line and then the bottom corner is seperate but 3/4th of that is one continuous wavy line which contrasts nicely with the sharper corners at the top and bottom.

[@cckongg]

that was brave

[@goldengun1214]

Proko? Do you have tutorials on drawing teenaged clothing? Just curious

[@ProkoTV]

Nothing so specific as that! You'll be using the same skills of observation and simplification as you will on other forms.

[@samankucher5117]

nice

[@gonzomandela]

Good call dropping the Proko tune on some videos, can get a bit annoying.

[@jakkdlaw]

I actually prefer your drawing to Jeff. 😂

[@fruit_fingrr]

So the God has a master 😦

[@shuvoDhar.5537]

Nice❤❤❤❤

[@EinRevolvermann]

Skulls though 😅👌🏼

[@muav3]

man proko is corny but a good artist.

[@haq3206]

Your Art is Dope, it looks intense, any tips on, how to critically think when drawing ✍🏻 🧊

[@royaebrahim2449]

❤❤

[@Paddsart]

Shape design shape design

[@SharminAkter-sl6vp]

Nice song

[@Llozstuff]

14:04 I am too late

[@craftymulligar]

Put a clear piece of plexiglass on the paper to rest your hand on. Not my idea.

[@varundate4081]

for once in the past four years, proko made a mistake in his drawings 😂

[@_Lazy_Prime]

There are so much views but you guys are not liking the vid .

[@jin_cotl]

Maybe they got bored or just didn’t wanna draw it

[@Tetronus]

Day#1 of asking for the marvel comics course to be free.

[@blackghost9944]

Proko's head has a short jawline, almost like a anime face, what makes hes neck kinda long...I cant avoid see his moves like if his head has putting on place by cg...kkkkkx...No ofense, but is kinda funny i gues... The study is crazy and helps a lot...

[@fandeandreaarruti]

Copy the line style. Nice.

[@BxEshadow]

I will say tho, for as nice of a this drawing is, I feel like the line quality is good but makes no sense placement wise, like how can the line on the outter part of a cheekbone be the same size intensity as the one inside the eye socket the darkest place in the skull. Quality without logic means nothing to an extent.

[@jerm7216]

the line is meant to reprisent the edge of a form turning away from you

[@BxEshadow]

​@@jerm7216 but it jsut gives a flat look due to every edge looking the same idk man

[@likeew2276]

The drawing of the skull is stylized with a focus on capturing the shape design. So it’s obvious that everything isn’t going to be 1:1 w real life. Drawings like Jeff’s are more about how the artist is seeing and not especially about the placement of each plane in space

[@MrInternetMan]

Honestly I don't see what's so good about Jeff's drawing.

[@SharminAkter-sl6vp]

That's why you're not an artist

[@MrInternetMan]

@@SharminAkter-sl6vp Oh I didn't know you were aware of the details of my life. Tell me more.

[@chotho4718]

@@SharminAkter-sl6vp Try respecting others' opinions.

[@HiddenHandMedia]

Not every drawing has to be an extremely detailed masterpiece. It's the line weight and rhythm of the drawing

[@larrynorgaard5730]

I don't think Jeff was trying to draw a masterpiece here, just something to use as an example/tool to train.

[@PhillipOliverVolta]

A wonderfully insightful master study! Thanks for breaking it down for us and talking about the mindset as well! 🤌

[@lulboiking5806]

wish I could take your courses, but im poor🥲

[@shashirawat5124]

Are you black..?

[@SharminAkter-sl6vp]

Same exact thing

[@shashirawat5124]

@@SharminAkter-sl6vp 🙏🏻

[@ProkoTV]

We have a sampler pack of free lessons from different courses on the site for free! www.proko.com/free

[@theinker6749]

Even though it's not affordable in India its like 4000, 13000 rupees but thanks to stan ,proko they cover enough amount of topics in figure drawing and anatomy for free👍😊