how to make a proportional divider for drawing

My complete online course on how to paint realism in oil is now available for free at www.drawmixpaint.com

[@eddieg66]

I can honestly say I think this guys videos are the best on KZbin what a lovely human being for sharing so much info on how to paint. I just made an easel and a light unit and soon I will begin to paint once I have everything set up.

[@DanielLopes-jt8yl]

I wish the general public (family) truly understood the impossibility of painting. That any success however small is an act of genius. Any tool, aid is always appreciated.

[@gloriabrothers5508]

I just want to commend your kindness & freely offered generosity of your art skills, not only in drawing/painting, but in instruction for making your tools. So many creative people are craving quality instruction, & many cannot afford any fraction of the fine quality training you offer freely... I'm sure I speak for others in Thanking You & your Lovely Wife for this treasured gift. Can't get enough! PLEASE Keep them coming. 😄

[@bernardorocha5570]

Im really amazed by the great knowledge and skills this man shares. He's so talented, generous and amazing human being. His vast knowledge of color was the starting point for me to get how values and color mixing works.Im so glad that you tube has such incredible sources for artists.

[@DrawMixPaint]

14" inces is just a good length for the general artist. If I was painting murals, I would make it maybe three times as big.

[@Liamdelf]

I made one of these yesterday and started using it today. Thank you so very much for the video. I made mine 18" because that is what was convenient at the time. I expect to make a larger one in the future. It is working perfectly. Once again, thank you so much :-D

[@hoppingwren]

this is great! I don't have a table saw so I made one using two wooden rulers from the dollar store and pointed the edges

[@mikefire3998]

Very good idea

[@RonSwansonIsMyGod]

Ha! I knew I wasn't the only one who thought of this! Better yet, buy a wooden yardstick and cut two 14 inch pieces and you can make one as long as his!

[@monawize1]

Thanks Mark! I just made one and I love it! What a difference it makes!

[@urbanspacehub]

Love both painting and woodwork tutorials. Great place to visit at one go :D

[@davidsmock8235]

I love how you not only sell things of great quality but how you also show how to make a "budget" diy version. Thank you so much.

[@shawncantsurf2891]

i made a killer easel from this guy''s info. after a few minor mods, it works excellent for my flow. i've had up to three (small) canvases on it simultaneously.

[@MrJpf44hp1]

Great video, as an amateur artist and woodworker made one the next day. One observation is that using regular 1 inch spacing will give you ratios that are not even. In order to get 1:2, 1:3,1:4 etc. hole spacing has to vary. A simple formula for hole spacing x ,length L and ratio R is that x=L divided by R+1 or written as x=L/R+1 so for the 14 inch example and a ratio of say 1:4 x=14/5=2.8 other side 11.2 for 1:3 x=14/4 and so on. Be careful trying to rip thin strips of hardwood on a table saw . Thanks so much.

[@eugeneoz]

Thanks, brilliant formula, now I can work out where to put the hole for the golden ratio position 1:1.618

[@MrEvilWasp]

I'm confused... Do i measure 2.8 inches down from 14 and then drill a hole? What do you mean by "other side 11.2" ? What would be the formula for centimetres? Peace

[@NoNopeAndNo]

@#%^&* q /€£¥$$*#(( 🤦‍♂️😳🧐🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ H E L P

[@maynardmiller293]

Hi Mark ,Got a piece of oak and made my first proportional divider. It works but looks like something from a medieval artifact museum. :}

[@hmarillejla7]

Howdy! I made this today and it is fantastic. Works great. Tks God bless you for all the info.

[@WayaAskin]

Thank you so much for this--the tip about the washers is awesome!

[@jayman4338]

I enjoy watching your videos. Thanks for putting them up.

[@mrebholz]

I'm very happy that Mark is thinking even of us poor artists who cannot afford sandpaper ;-)

[@nicholasblair-fish605]

Yup... very happy. Nothing cheap about his Geneva paints though!! :)

[@gilessteve]

@@nicholasblair-fish605 He should do a Top Ramen cookery video so we can eat while we save up to buy Geneva paints.

[@mikefire3998]

haha

[@sedratoor2908]

Thanks Mark for all what you give, i really appreciate it. I don't know how to use the proportional divider, am from Africa and this is my first time to use it ! you said one side of them is to measure with, also i don't know how, and you said the other one to ...., I'll be appreciate if you make a Video on how to use it , thanks again.

[@maynardmiller293]

Hello, The second try on the proportional divider turned out better. Sometimes the trial and error way is the best teacher.:}

[@sgruttadauria]

Really excellent. Thank you for sharing your talent.

[@mikeblair2594]

thank you. i am learning how o build Kentucky longrifles and pistols and the better guns that are more pleasing to look at always follow the golden mean. that means i need a set of proportional dividers set three to five. i was a blacksmith long before i started building guns, so taking your building technique and using steel instead of wood will be easy. so again, thanx. Mike Blair Kalapooia forge.

[@noiseintheoffice]

This is a very useful tool. I have used rubber washers for plumbing for that tension function on other projects; may work if you can't find a gasketed washer.

[@souvickch]

u r truly generous for providing this information for free.

[@travisodermatt2472]

Awsome info for building your own tools! Thank you

[@YamiHW]

Great video and very helpful!

[@delphinesilva7456]

My husband has gone the same for me, thank you very much for the topic!!!!!!!!!

[@matthewfowler9659]

Can personalize by applying a wood stain of your preference. They have all sorts of colors including pastels in addition to the classic rustic stains.

[@marcusaurelius1477]

Thanks for your great channel !

[@GiseleGrenier]

Thanks for the video Mark!

[@silverleafmaple]

What a nice guy! I may just buy one from drawmixpaint.com but I really appreciate the option to make one. I then can spend more money on other art supplies. I'm saving for his Geneva paints too. I have others but I want some Geneva! What a kind soul.

[@astoyan4645]

Catherine Clements So did you buy paints?:)

[@TheCherubim67]

i know this video is over three years old but you don't have to buy a piece of wood for the proportional dividers, you can go to a hardware store like Home Depot and go to the paint section and grab the wooden painting mix sticks, which are free.

[@Thepurpleful]

+Cherubim 67 Thats good idea! I'm wondering have you tried it? Does the wood split? In the video he says to use high quality wood like oak. I'm thinking the thin pine wood will split when drilled.

[@kelymknowles1]

..or 2 pencils and a rubber band....lol...c'mon ppl you're 'spose ta be artists. Get creative!

[@Jason_Greer_Art]

Cherubim 67 Thanks for that idea, I had some paint stirrers in the garage so worked out perfect!

[@OneDawkinsFan]

I have just made such a prop. div., and it worked well. Dont't try to saw the tips (as someone suggested) unless you have a very precise saw! I used a belt sander, which worked extremely well. I had some nicely formed tips within 10 minutes. My PD is 35 cm long, and the distance between the (5mm) holes is 1 cm. 1cm is a bit much. I tested it, and I would have needed a hole between 3 and 4. So maybe you try to make as many holes close together as possible...

[@delapaz1964]

maravilloso si no me enseñas nunca me entero que existe que Dios te bendiga por tu inteligencia y generosidad al compartir tus conocimiento de corazón muchas gracias amigo

[@davidstewart860]

Really good video!

[@atsu8344]

Thanks dear, you’re very helpful and amazing

[@GiseleGrenier]

Mar, my hubby is going to try making one because I broke two AccuraSee dividers already. He wanted to ask why it had to be 14" long. Was that just for "ease of hold" or did it have to do with the ratio measurements? thanks!!

[@sunilkawatra1338]

Thanks for the video would please clear me that I have make hole every half inch from middle point 7 inches..?and how many holes ...?

[@jacobstaten2366]

Would it be better to have the points flush with the inside edge of either arm and tapper on the outside like a compass? That might make it easier to expand angles. Not sure. Just wondering.

[@woodstuffmexico]

thank you, i am amazed how much informations you share, again thank you

[@kalinamasash1137]

You are amazing . I did furniture design. I would like to do this stuff :)

[@fayee8986]

Thank you! Very helpful! Appreciate it

[@OneDawkinsFan]

My (oak) strips are 5 mm thick, and I bought them in a hardware store. Works very well.

[@DrawMixPaint]

Thank you Souvick! :-)

[@OneDawkinsFan]

If you don't have a very precise saw (and few people have that!), don't try to saw that because it is to delicate! The nicest tool for that purpose is a belt grinder, which I happened to use abt. 1 hour ago. Worked really fine! And, by the way, there a many people who like to / need to measure and remeasure proportions in a painting. To me it happens frequently that I get doubts, and then it is the only thing to remeasure! Nothing to do with being "talented" or not.

[@iamtubuler9266]

If you cant cut the wood I believe you can get some thick paint stir sticks at Lowes or a paint store or even a yard stick cut down. Thanks for posting this.

[@TheDerekeder]

Paint sticks - Nice idea Lou! I am going to plane the tips of mine to a point before I rip the stock in two (on a bandsaw). Great series!

[@ajnbin]

Can it be disadvantage of relying too much on the proportional devider?

[@keci57]

Thanks gentelmen, especially for your kindness and pateint. :-)

[@davidbriggs5778]

Thank you, Thank you Best ... David

[@catsmad48]

This is brilliant for two reasons. You can either buy plastic versions on ebay and amazon which are not up to the task...or you can buy nice metal ones for a big price. The big snag is t hey have slides and not holes and are useless for art.

[@phoenixiky1027]

How thick are the strips please ? Thank you ! :-)

[@chuckharris9921]

I am getting ready to make the proportional divider. How thick are the strips, it looks like something near a wooden yard stick thickness on the video? I have listened to the video several times and I haven't heard that fact.

[@Etist1234]

thank you very much.

[@timeisgold7793]

Very helpful ...thank u

[@edmundosherrera]

good ...i will try ..thanks

[@donseib9819]

most wood stores have hardwood in smaller sizes. You can easily find maple or oak thats 1/4 inch thick and 1 inch wide.

[@jerryskidlsd]

Great video. Thanks

[@bigdroz1982]

but how exactly are you planning ratios? You are putting holes at every half inch and starting just a little off center but wouldn't 1 to 1 be on the center? and how much enlargement does a half inch provide?

[@sould3mon271]

+bigdroz1982 was confused about this also but i think it's because 1:1 means "measurements side : life size " where you measure real size on one end and hold it out to match where you are sitting and pick the correct hole . ( so the end result your painting is 1:1 with real life but your diver is not set to 1:1 ) 1:1 ratio would otherwise only be usefull with plotting from a picture holder where source already is life size and at your canvas .

[@battuh]

A little bit late, yeah, I know, but I'm curious: can it be smaller, like 7 inches?

[@OneDawkinsFan]

You may be interested in this: I used 5 mm screws, which is alright. But maybe it would be better to use smaller screws and holes closer together to get a finer variation!

[@alvingreenidge5166]

After my wet on wet is dry should I oil out. I like the wet on wet very much, Thanks

[@Al-ny8dk]

I put them beside the toilet and sanded against the wall every day while seated. It took 2 weeks but saved me at least $4 on sandpaper. Now I need some paint to touch up the wall...

[@cynthiamarston2208]

I get confused with proportional divider. I do always have to work from a smaller picture but when I start with a divider I have to keep using it. If I don’t use one I do have some issues too but they are different ....I just make a bout the same size portrait because portraits are never oversized in my world....it’s just.... portrait size. Usually 12 x 12 or 11 x 14 size canvas. I have just started art again so I’ll figure it out. I had never used one before

[@brotherbartlett]

What size screw and drill bit did you use if you don't mind me asking? (if you remember) I don't think I heard it in the video. My apologies if you said it.

[@sedratoor2908]

Thanks Mark, i don't have any of your tools , but am going to tell a carpenter to make one for me, but what i didn't understand how can i use it , use this one we measure it and the other we blog with, sorry but this is my first time to see a proportional divider and don't know how to use it after i have it from the carpenter, please can you help me , thanks again.

[@Miko-lo6wv]

Plenty of youtubes to explain it, but in essence, from a fixed point from the subject extend your arm out fully take a measure of the subject between the points with the side that has the holes in it. The opposite side will then give you an enlargement of various size depending on the hole that you have chosen to put the pivot bolt through with the middle hole giving a 1:1 ratio. You can also use it like a mathematical compass, and put the points down on say a photograph you're trying to copy to get distances for proportion without bothering to swap ends, or swap ends and get enlargements of the photograph etc.

[@dactylus90]

i agree to you! it is better to use our eye in painting! practice is make our eye better than a wood divider!

[@talmiz3588]

hi, what's the brass screw and nut? how is it called? Im trying to look for that online and I need to know what to write

[@graven13]

I have the same question. What is the name of the brass screw and nut fasteners?

[@kabluey5971]

Thumb nut and thumb screw

[@Socrates...]

can you do a video of you sharpening on the sidewalk like you suggest?

[@r.mercado9737]

I like this instructional vid! Not bad!

[@alvingreenidge5166]

GM after wet on should I oil out, help please

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you.

[@SighDown]

I'll buy one if you sell it in your store....

[@garyfrye222]

I made my out of five gallon paint paddles. I made them 5 years ago.

[@magggie22]

Hi nice to meet you :) great tutorial...just wondered how thick is the wood you used thank you for sharing this great help appreciate it ... keep up the great work :) Have a nice day :) magz :)

[@halfabee]

Beautiful Garden. Subtropical I guess

[@DJSHADDY2K7]

I like your video but i notice some thing you did no show in the video that you problem note all ready.well one is how thick to cut the strips when you fines drill the hole into the side of the bored.

[@kelymknowles1]

The correct phrase is "up and coming artist" The correct spelling of your current screen name is "upcoming artist" It just sounds awful and is bad grammar.

[@DJSHADDY2K7]

what your try to say remove the name that already there or what?

[@DJSHADDY2K7]

k knowles what your try to say remove the name that already there or what?

[@kelymknowles1]

You still have it wrong. There is no "E" in "coming". The phrase should look like, "Up and coming". Now...in addition to that. Are you talking about just yourself that is up and coming? or are you talking about multiple people? If you are speaking of just yourself thn you do not need the "S" and the end of "artists". It would just be, "artist" which is singular, If you are talking about multiple artists that are up and coming, this would be plural and you would keep it as, "artists". Sorry, I only tried to correct you because you were using it as a screen name and I am sure you would want it phrased correctly so people know what you mean. :)

[@DJSHADDY2K7]

Alright thanks

[@mansourrezaei5016]

Good 👍👍👍👍

[@TheDGr1001]

Wouldn't it have been nice to have all the holes drilled on the centre line he drew on the edge of the wood?

[@vlad17ism]

:O are traducere in romana!

[@robertcornelius3514]

He is still sanding to this day.

[@fredmarshall4062]

he didn't answer on drill bit size oh well I'll use 1/4 done deal

[@antonezitti8079]

no sound with this video

[@dactylus90]

WHAT DID YOU SAY? AccuraSee?

[@emilyyan5594]

he sounds very energetic

[@donnchadhmcginley3153]

Just sand both ends of the oak wood for several days 😄

[@atelieroflauraleemoreland3418]

Scale divider

[@luissepulveda9005]

Saca ls letras no se nada

[@mariomarin4622]

Español por favor...😊

[@icandothis1238]

I'm using the sidewalk, sitting with it between my extended legs. Taking awhile but I'm getting there. :)

[@burntt999]

Good ole' american system of my accidents are your fault. Thank god you threw in these additional tips, @ 4:23 otherwise you might have been liable for someone else's severed fingers. LOL. "But Mr.Mark told me to use the saw!! Its HIS job to pay for all of the hospital bills!"

[@hmarillejla7]

Scraping on the side-walk...and it will catch on fire lol.

[@wernerhiemer406]

Yeah and finanlly the sidewalk turns into lava melting down to the gas lines. And the whole city burns down like in "Geostorm".

[@leesantisi6581]

Joe Grech

[@1viccar]

omg so weird. A lot of unnecessary work. You can buy two wooden regular rules in dollar store and stick them the same way like here. That´s all. Imagination is much better than a hard work.

[@DarinMolnar]

There's always some dipshit who knows a better way. Tag, you're it.

[@blendermind]

my dividers, je je je drive.google.com/open?id=1Y_XWMESY6tR3BaQsf6jEabKcq1bIhJ4Y

[@romaineathey6512]

I think you need to take some time and go to woodprix website to learn how to make it.

[@wakeupuk3860]

It never ceases to amaze me on here to see 'so called' intelligent and skillful people can be so 'dumb' in expecting viewers to just happen to have a table saw in their bed room, kitchen, garage or especially fitted out shed. Having used commercial table saws and know whzat they cost the space they need to be able to cut cleanly for such a short piece of wood is bloody stupid and expensive. Plus it takes great skill to drill perfectly perpendicular to ensure the dividers when angled slide exactly ensuring they don't twist. Also (which again astounds me) this artist has proven incredible brush and drawing skills for hair line accuracy but then shows us sand papering the 'so called' pointed ends which in truth more like bulbous large thumbs for purpose of placing a fine point. Mind not you not as bad as the little old lady making a cat flap door which included a virtual hardware store of precision cutting and electric tools , easily costing about $5000 so her cat could get in. Even so, stick to what you are a master of, a very good artist and don't insult us with 'making' wooden proportional dividers' please.

[@ricktherecorder4416]

What a ill-natured comment. The demonstrator was at pains at every juncture to point out the minimum tools options. The table-saw suggestion was only "if you have one and know how to use it". For heaven's sake he didn't even have a vice, and no-one tries to make anything without that minimal equipment. The points were perfectly adequate - any finer and they would never survive damage in daily use.

[@scobrado]

@@ricktherecorder4416 Ditto. I thought M. Carder gave plenty of creative options and understands his artist audience well. I made mine pine because I didn't have any hardwood, and mine bows a little at the tips. I might try splitting an an old hickory rake handle for my next try.

[@romaineathey6512]

I am sure that you will find good way to make it on woodprix Webpage.

[@DarinMolnar]

Scam site. Nice try...

[@jimreynolds5967]

spend the 8 bucks

[@musamor75]

Now, now. Let's start from the beginning. 1) To get the perfect centre line, use a MARKING GUAGE. Reverse sides to make sure you're dead centre. 2) To evenly mark out perfectly equal divisions, use a compass with points only. 3) By using the "points" left by the compass (perfectly equidistant) you can use a bradawl to accent these. 4) Use a drill press with a square guide ; this way your holes are perfectly PERPENDICULAR. I'm only at 4:11 and I'm out. Sorry, this is just too amateurish. Your holes don't even line up. Plus, you have to stagger the holes to obtain different ratios. Look below for these ; some people give great ideas. Friendly advice : try to be 100% sure of yourself before making a video. You know, as they say: The road to Hell is paved with the best intentions.Good luck.

[@ixamraxi]

While these would be valid critiques for heirloom quality divider, its important to remember that perfection is the enemy of good. I suspect the intention here is to motivate people to create a simple tool that is both functional and easy to fabricate. There is very little a precisely made divider could do that a simple divider could not. Yes, it is amateurish, but its intended to be made and used by fellow woodworking amateurs. You're welcome to make yours from mahogany, sand it to 600 grit, drill a logarithmic scale, seal it and protect it with oil or varnish, but in the end the function it performs will not be significantly superior to the one in this video.

[@DarinMolnar]

Actually, the road to Hell is paved with the rotten, bloated corpses of know-it-all asshats...like you.

[@violinoscar]

Are you for real? Who has a bradawl, a drill press? Not the majority that's for sure. Correct ratios? This is not a scientific instrument intended for use in neurosurgery. It's 2 bits of wood to help make my drawing a bit bigger.

[@ductile12]

you should not give advice on how to build,,as you do not know...there are many, many better ways to do what you did..