How to Get Better at Drawing Portraits

If you draw portraits, you're probably looking for ways that you might improve. This video suggests 5 ideas that will improve your skills by changing the way you practice and the way you think about portrait drawing in general. If you have any questions, just leave them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer them. Thanks for watching!
Much more of my work can be seen on:
Website:
www.jeffhainesart.com
Patreon:
/ jeffhaines
KZbin Channel:
/ jeffhainesart
Instagram:
/ jeff.haines
Facebook:
/ jeff.haines.555

[@lorenknowles1521]

I’m a retired illustrator and graphic artist. For well over 30 years, I did art to meet the needs of my clients, and I did very well. After retiring, I have struggled trying to get back to the joy I had as a kid doing art for fun. For me, it’s like starting over learning new skills. Your advice is definitely helpful. Sometimes you need someone to remind you of the basics and to try a different philosophy from time to time.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Loren, I worked in the printing industry (prepress) for many years. Taking up drawing again after years of mostly digital work was like a revelation for me. I wish you all the best with your drawings!

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

That's the problem with a lot of adults...they don't like to do the things they once did as a child. I never lost that feeling of being a kid

[@PatGirvin]

Jeff, I love to draw and have shifted my focus at different times from the figure, to faces, to buildings and environments, and landscapes sometimes. I have to say, that faces are very elusive and require the most time to regain facility. I can construct buildings and spaces, but to get a true likeness seems to be 80% frequent practice and 20% alchemy. Thanks for posting this; it’s quite inspiring to me.

[@algernonwolfwhistle6351]

Sage advice. As the Chinese say, there are many paths to the top of the mountain. As someone who's struggling in the foothills I always value the guidance given by those who are capable of the kind of quality portraits you post here.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much for the poetic comment, love that!

[@JhonnyWaltz]

Nice

[@markl240]

As a fellow traveller stumbling towards Base camp I really appreciate your comment and this great encouraging video. Thanks to both of you for posting

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

As an old school Parsons student, I'm 56 now, I wish you could have been my teacher... what you said in this one video rang so true for me... THANK YOU SIR and a hello from Central Mexico...

[@JeffHainesArt]

Hello and thanks you! Very kind of you to say.

[@user-rc9fd7gl4e]

This is my first comment on KZbin ever... but I saw your first videos two years ago... I copied every one of your pictures in charcoal... you draw people's souls. I learned that from you... when I draw I'm scared, but I learned from you how to capture the soul... I rarely show my pictures but when I do, people are amazed, thanks to you... thank you very much again

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much for commenting. I really love hearing things like this. I wish you the best with your drawing.

[@okj8339]

I love that endinh part...drswing is really subjective

[@TocharaehD]

5:11 is great advice. As a child I was discouraged from drawing because I was drawing from references that I really liked a lot, but friends and family simply saw it as "copying". I cannot stress this enough, a healthy practice from references are invaluable. Art professionals in the animation, and game industry are prime examples that working with references never stop being one of the many tools in your toolbelt. Furthermore, drawing from a reference, still life, and/or from Life will continuously build an artist's "visual library", thus giving you increasing familiarity and understand with shape, form, structure, proportionality, how light interacts with the subject, and three dimensionality.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks for commenting! I agree with you. :)

[@dplj4428]

Some of my greatest leaps in progress were from a specific artist, 30 days straight or less.

[@lovelifedrawing]

this was great! i love that your advice on the best approach is simply to pick the one that works for you

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much! Love your channel!

[@kreenoks]

I'm very grateful for this man's advice, and hard work.

[@aliyutube]

3:28 is like a trap, I've been told to do this specific thing. What nobody told me is proportions can change, there are a lot of parameters that can be changed in the facial structure. I very much agree on your opinions.

[@vaukest5888]

You're very correct. I've been following the advice "The nose is always the middle third of the face" until I looked in the mirror and realized that was a lie. took me a while to notice

[@aliyutube]

@@vaukest5888 proko? I read the head and hands book of loomis and rewatched proko's oldest head vid. Loomis never indicated a 2/3 measurements and relationship. And it took me 5 years to realize and break out of that fixed proportion thing.

[@aliciasam5239]

​@@vaukest5888l knew this was a lie by observation.People with big foreheads has slightly bigger heads and l suppose their proportions vary slightly. Some people have a small cranium no matter the race and young black boys have bigger craniums. People like my brother's cranium is not completely circular but has a heart like curve at the back.

[@dpelpal]

Have any of you even bothered to _read_ Loomis' book? He SPECIFICALLY says that proportions vary between people. He _encourages_ you to look for the proportions. He offers his method as a guideline, and says so specifically lol.

[@aliyutube]

@@dpelpal yes.

[@MercenaryMuse]

ASMR voice says wise things that help me relax about my weird methods. Thank you!

[@JeffHainesArt]

Haha, thanks so much! I usually see weird as a positive thing. Keep going weirdo.

[@ancoopa]

What a great points. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@kelleyspartiatis4776]

I'm told that I am far too critical of my work. I don't fish for compliments. I just see what can be better with practice and when I get it right I am the first person to say that I love it.

[@tomphillips8565]

I agree and appreciate all your instructions. Very good!

[@tdkrasu]

Thank you very much for the advice. Everything you said is all great advice, to me it was about not spend too much time with details especially when practicing. Thanks

[@rolfarnquist8343]

Thank you Jeff for making this video. Much good advice and information.

[@incognito3620]

Really good advice. More important than the sketches shown. Listen, think and then draw. And draw, and draw, and draw, and draw. No substrate for practice.

[@paulrodberg]

Substitute

[@themole2024]

Jeff you are a talented artist and teacher. So glad I came across this video. Your advice to focus on quantity and structure/construction certainly seems to ring true.

[@NorahsYarnArt]

I can sit and listen to you all day.

[@james.stewart]

Best kind of informative video Jeff! Thanks!

[@jmarcguy]

Great video! I’m getting back into drawing after not doing it consistently for a decade. I’m trying to start with the basics & work on fundamentals. I draw regularly but I’m guilty of trying to to complete things & spending too much time rendering. I need to work on structure a lot more.

[@lesserknownname9269]

This video was really motivating and I agreed with everything you said. I feel like I have learned my methods through watching videos and taking parts of other artists methods and combining ones that worked for me, such as the loomis method and measurements for the face. Now I’m working on preserving gesture as I know that’s my current problem area. Thanks for sharing! 👍🏻💯

[@Morattumaamu]

Much needed words, thanks a lot.💖

[@savvysod8995]

This is the video I needed at this time of me doubting my art journey. Solid advice, not sugarcoating it, straight to the point and informative. Thank u so much for this. The part where u said that some people or artist take offense in u learning and drawing from reference is true. Most if not all veteran or professional artists would tell you to draw from reference and it's often times the amateurs or people who have no idea how drawing works and put it on to "talent" that says otherwise.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you for commenting! Happy that you're getting something from the videos that you find useful!

[@masteragi513]

Great advices, thank you so much

[@DanAbsalonson]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

[@gioargentati7802]

Thank you for posting this, Jeff! It is very helpful and inspiring!

[@JeffHainesArt]

Glad you liked it Gio!

[@davidshetsky104]

Great, great job. I’m a fine art portrait drawer and you definitely hit the nail on the head all around

[@sakissk]

Jeff, really thank you man about the advices, your work is sooo nice, your portraits so unique..keep us learning with the right way mate!

[@JeffHainesArt]

Happy that you liked it!

[@NeptunesHorses5909]

I just found you and subscribed; love the use of the phrase/point "healthy dissatisfaction" (re all one's previous work). I will be working with overwhelmingly organic forms, mainly animals, but bringing in effective figures with true likenesses is a plus, for all that formal human portraiture was never studied - thank you!

[@michaelmcewan432]

You actually made my drawings better,even tho I have been doing portraits for as long as I can remember I always try to do things in different ways just to learn more Thanks for everything you do

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you Michael, I appreciate your comments :)

[@navi1497]

thank you for your work sir.

[@kalospiano9470]

wow, I love that head construction between 3:09 and 4:00, so quick and so effective!

[@Cariad247]

Excellent advice....thank you.

[@SockMonkeyofcourse]

Thank you Jeff!

[@theringman25]

This is great a masterpiece. Thanks for sharing!

[@GKganesan]

Thank you. Very encouraging

[@gregforde6234]

Thank you for a splendid video.

[@franciscoarcegurza6474]

Thank you. Very good advice.

[@Tha_Pencil]

excellent video. I really appreciate the runtime of your videos btw. Very wise formatting decision.

[@bruceh3905]

Awesome, quick guide!

[@Katrina.for_art]

very helpful, very true. Thankyou

[@slipa9]

Thank you for this helpful video.

[@deathtricker6780]

Thank you! I will put into practice your suggestions!

[@Ivert2211]

Check my art broo

[@yesmahman5833]

Ohmahgod Im inlove with your Art, AMAZINGG.

[@ellasoref9792]

I like your opinion and it ran true to me. Thank you!

[@pianoatthirty]

This video is an absolute masterpiece. Beautiful drawings, beautiful advice. Thank you for this.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked it.

[@MooseJawKim]

Wow, Jeff your advice is spot on and pure gold. The quantity over quality, was especially insightful. This was the first time I enjoyed one of your videos, but you caught a devoted follower all the same. Thank you !

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you Kim! Welcome to the channel.

[@sukalemn1211]

Thank you, thank you!!! Everything you said is true. Best for me, thinking that there's a specific way/rule to drawing/painting. I searched so hard and and I tried to copy every one else, and in the process I forgot myself. It's my way, my painting, my look at the world! Thank you kindly

[@JeffHainesArt]

Glad that you liked it!

[@FuzzyBunnyofInle]

Thank you for this.

[@MariamPareArt]

I really like your teaching style. Your explanations are excellent.

[@terryhand]

Really excellent advice.

[@LouiseOuimet-wo2dg]

Hi, GREAT video,and goooood narration. Thanks signed Jim

[@markardisson2791]

golden advice here Jeff!

[@matthewwilliams3827]

Very good videos your portraits are distinct in style.

[@kevinnoel9024]

Jeff, I follow you on your Facebook page and have benefitted from the drawings posted. Charcoal at first intimidated me because of the dustiness plus getting the lifelikeness proportion and value being issues I struggled with, my artwork wasn't pleasing. So I am happy for your knowledge and for sharing with us vital techniques to get better results. Thank you, Mr. Haines

[@JeffHainesArt]

Hey Kevin! Good to see you here and thanks for your comments!

[@odedonn3912]

Love your videos Jeff and I find this one to be one of the best. Golden advices to the aspiring portrait artists 🧑‍🎨 thank you for sharing your wisdom and expertise 🙏 ❤

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks! Happy that you liked it :)

[@davidstephenson3615]

GREAT wisdom here, every artist needs to hear this. Actually, every person needs to hear it.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you David!

[@bibasmukhia]

So helpful advices..❤️

[@Andrew_Navarrete]

Thank you for sharing your opinion !

[@Neorhim]

Good points for portrait drawings.

[@canningtownlenstudio2115]

There is so much I like about this video

[@karenb9517]

This video was totally golden for me!! Thank you for these tips. It’s time for me to go back to practicing portraits again. This was a very inspiring video for me.👏👏👏

[@JeffHainesArt]

I love hearing that! Good luck Karen!

[@MichelleyB-zk3eh]

I'd like to try it. Subscribed

[@thestaz8564]

This helped alot !! totally agree sir! 👍your work is beautiful !

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much! Glad it helped.

[@kenneth1767]

I value your opinion, and you've won a subscription. Beautiful drawings, all of them.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much! Welcome!

[@daveychaz]

Greetings Jeff - wanted to say thanks so much for uploading these videos. Your work is a real inspiration to someone like myself that used to enjoy art as a kid and now returning to it many years later just for the enjoyment, and challenge of it. So cool! Please consider making more tutorials or commentary vids they are so immensely helpful! If you had a course for sale I'd buy it in a heartbeat (I'm sure I'm not the only one). Thanks for sharing your work and your thoughts, looking forward to more.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much! Glad tat you enjoy them :)

[@JohnMitchellCalif]

great ideas! Subscribed.

[@coolshah1662]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@JeffHainesArt]

Glad you find it helpful!

[@alibraim2381]

merci beaucouppour cette brillante explication j'adore votre art👍👍👍👍

[@JeffHainesArt]

You're very welcome, thank you for watching!

[@Cheburashka_420]

You're very honest and I appreciate you and your video.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much, I appreciate that.

[@Cheburashka_420]

@@JeffHainesArt you're very welcome.

[@SuperSavvyTravelersLLC]

Thank you!

[@SinchanaAcharya-uu4vs]

Thank you!!

[@susanwong6471]

Great advice! straight to the point and very practical. I once attended an atelier school where student spend months working on perfecting a painting. I completely agreed with you take that it is more beneficial to paint more less perfect painting and working on only one perfect painting. Needles to say, I quickly quit the atelier and paint daily on my own.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Think of it as necessary and unnecessary. Very quick, timed sketches of just a few minutes is a good exercise in recognizing what’s necessary. Good luck!

[@all-land]

this man is so wise

[@ranisketch9363]

I love it❤

[@elsle4689]

Makes a lot of sense

[@brentharris4320]

Awesome thanks

[@Upstart800]

Excellent advice; to work more on the quick studies then trying to do complete portraits when starting off. Thanks!

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks you! and good luck to you.

[@hadeeldarmoushart2255]

Your art is wow From syria

[@dannyfoxguided]

Like many others, I’m getting back to drawing that I enjoyed when I was a kid. This video is very helpful and inspiring. Thanks.

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

I've always like to draw.... I'm a kid again 😄

[@proton9551]

Thats VERY GOOD advice to go MANY incomplete to the last detail portraits. I will make it my goal 2024. thanks

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks! and good luck with your drawings!

[@hyerrrvawesome6744]

Good info thanks

[@user-bv6fh7nk8g6x]

I think at first people tend to hyperfocus on the details in portraits! Great advice!

[@nixdanger6733]

WOW thankyou.

[@user-og5wu7ji6u]

I'm really glad I watched this particular video. All of your points are valuable, but the quantity over quality exercise is probably something I need to do. Thanks for posting this, and keep posting!

[@iangallager4091]

Often, not wanting to get deeply involved in a finished work of art ,

[@iangallager4091]

I meant to say was I find an image on line, glance at the clock and say to myself, ,' you have 30 minutes to look as intensively as you can to get a fair likeness ' and sometimes the outcome is not so bad and can be rewarding

[@thunderbirdvg4797]

Oh waw you got a deep voice..🤩

[@Rene974]

Awesome advice. New sub.

[@juliannemakesart]

This is a fantastic video! The drawings are exquisite throughout too.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@SquatchtheMind]

Great video!

[@rebeccalilienfeld4519]

Thank you, this video was very helpful. I’ve just subscribed.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Glad you liked it! Welcome!

[@jeffolsen4983]

Good stuff. If my friend is more receptive to a video than being on the spot... Thanks.

[@Daemonpool65]

First time seeing your videos. I gotta say, what an awesome voice you have! 😮 It reminds me of the old radio voices of the 1920s! Subscribing for that and the art! XD

[@JeffHainesArt]

Haha, Thanks! Welcome to the channel!

[@leadlefthand]

01:00 - best insight I've heard when it comes to practice and it's something I'll keep in mind every time I attempt to draw portraits. I've always wondered why I struggle to draw freehand. Now it makes sense to me. I've developed good techniques for rendering, but my ability to abstract reality to draw the underlying construction of my subject is severely lacking. I get bogged down with seeing details and my tendency is to render as I construct. Forcing myself to just practice the construction in my journal can hopefully detach me from the tendency to focus on details.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks for commenting! Best of luck with your work.

[@sharit7970]

Thanks for posting- very insightful! This must have taken quite a while to put together!

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Shari! Yes, it took forever but it I enjoyed it. Thanks for noticing!

[@sidmiel9927]

Thank you

[@StefanNuetzel]

Great video and very concise. So many good statements under advice. Btw! I could listen to you voice for hours. 😊

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Stefan! Glad you liked it :)

[@remember1084]

Your voice very soothing and the content reassuring I’m a rank amateur, but loving it

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much!

[@markaguzmanartist630]

Interesting vedio it is true for example I been using the Loomis method or the oval or the cross method so many of them but I made it easy to understand it making it my way, for example the Loomis method can be changed in son many ways even Loomis him self you can tell from his sketch es he does draw in different ways he did not only use the ball method or dividing the ball he does all kinds of alternative s

[@pruntyportraits]

Great video Jeff

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Simon!

[@yavnrh]

This is a great video! The advice is spot on. I'm an anime-stylized artist and everything here applies just the same to my type of work. I feel like I'm being held back by the lack of quantity, and planning to fix that by regularly doing copies/studies. It's a bit weird that copies can be a bit controversial whereas drawing from nature isn't. But I think it's a fair game if we're honest and upfront about the work being a copy/study. What I like the most about this type of practice is that it shortens the time to start drawing -- no agonizing over the subject, the pose, the burden of being creative 😅 And I hope (well, I know) that these skills will transfer to my original work in the future.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you! Best of luck with your work.