Steps to a Likeness: Oil Portraits

[@chrisreynolds3351]

As an old retired lady who has never drawn or painted since infant school, and needs to just get on and learn fast... this was perfect for me. Learned all I needed in 10 minutes and spent a funny, very enjoyable hour using my husband as a live model. After a couple of attempts my hubby had all his facial bits in the right place and in the right proportions. Thank you so much.

[@leojablonski2309]

Old retired man.. ditto

[@terrapin52]

I just have to say, there are people who are born to teach who are worth their weight in gold, and this instructor has that gift for sure. Amazing!!

[@louisakleinert]

One of the best teaching videos I have ever seen! Great pieces of advise to all levels of artists!

[@annietempest1]

Good, no nonsense approach. It works. Practice is everything

[@Titan52berg]

Close to some of the art training tips I learned in high school and art school; the eye is good unit for measuring various features on the frontal view of a human face. Example: the height of the eye is used for determining the width of the nostrils, the area between the bottom of the nose and the top of the upper lip of the mouth, the width between the eyes, the width from the outer corner of each eye to the side of the head ( generally resulting in the width of the head, at its widest point, being about five eye-width units wide ). It is usually one eye unit from the corners of the mouth to the outer edge of the jaw, and one eye unit high from the bottom of the lower lip to the bottom edge of the chin.

[@meabid]

absolutely one of the best over the internet that i've ever seen.

[@abeldelarosa5760]

Thank you Perri for helping us see how important measuring is whether we use tools or it comes naturally to us.

[@garyklett405]

I thought it was very helpful. I especially liked the part about resting your hand on the easel for measuring & being able to use either hand.

[@blondelebanese9922]

Thank you so much...these measurements are critical to getting the best rendition of the person's face, always a problem for me when I'm working on a portrait. Love your video. Peace

[@artlover513]

she is an amazing teacher and I see what I have been trying to learn how to draw a face of someone. she is a born teacher.

[@darkenrahl2007]

thank you for this video...after watching countless videos that show how to proportionate on paper..yours is the only one actually showing how you get the proportions in the first place.

[@sativaromantica6268]

Wow, I thought this video was really informative! She was giving some really good, practical instructions that seem so obvious but do need pointing out sometimes. Thank you for sharing. :)

[@2urita]

I find your measuring techniques very interesting and useful. I have never before used your methods in all my years as a portraitist. I'd been doing portraits on and off for 30 years. Thanks for your measuring methods. In doing portraits, most artists start with the eyes, whereas I start with a sitter' nose - the most central feature. From the center, I work outwards and quickly. It's easier that way. That was the method once taught to Victorian artists in art schools.

[@DHeatherC]

Great video, excellent teacher, wish it was longer!

[@goodgirl5824]

Anyone under your tutelage, his no choice but to be a great artist. I wish I could train under you for a year. God bless! 🙏🏾

[@marinagarciasolorzano1724]

Lady, reading all the comments, I realized that the bigger the ignorance reing in a heart, the ungrateful people are more stupids!...I BLESS YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, because in this audiovisual tape, you finish to polished what I had not understand of proportions and features of faces individual differences; in my 65 years old, maybe painting is my last dream I got since I was a little girl...GOD BLESS YOU, FOR HELPING ME TO ACHIEVE IT!

[@jonviol]

Absorbing upload . Excellent stuff .

[@logos513]

The model is beautiful!

[@loutillman936]

Thankyou for making this video-its clear and direct. Perfect for those of us who want to learn!!

[@ayaelsayed5662]

From egypt, Please come back to make more videos because I have benefited a lot from you💕💕💕

[@ilham78]

make your own calipers by cutting 2 pieces of cardbord and connecting them with a sharp pin like the hands of a clock. attach some kneeded eraser so it doesn't poke your finger on the other side

[@Engelhafen]

You make some great points about measuring

[@Nathouuuutheone]

This is quite elaborate. Taught me a few interesting things! Thanks a lot!

[@Biju2223]

Always learning an easier method for portraiture. Enjoy your presentation and will try it right away.

[@99MokiDugway]

If you're looking for the tool she is using to measure: they are called proportional dividers or scale dividers. She calls them calipers.

[@leojablonski2309]

A Gold standard video !

[@YetAnotherPianoWhore]

I understand that- I've been drawing portraits for a while and first I picked up likenesses more naturally. In art school however you will be taught to measure and techniques for precision. But just because you use this exactness once doesn't mean you always have to use it. The point of it is to teach you things you would never otherwise discover. It is worth doing AT LEAST once. Then you can always go back to trying to capture a fleeting gesture or a perfect smile- but better! Good luck :)

[@crustydog1666]

This so much better than all of those artists who do time lapse instructional videos. I could be wrong,but it seems like, while off camera, they just trace from a photo, leaving very light lines. The video they do show seems like they're just darkening the lines they traced.

[@p.emsleyart7675]

Drawing a portrait isn't all about measuring :-p sure it's vital to understand the relationship between the features but once this has been established it's important just to sketch and feel the lines of the face for yourself. Drawing portraits is just as much about expression as it is about the perception of reality, however, that being said I still find it useful after years of practise to come back and re-explore the basics of portrait drawing. This video was very helpful! Thank you

[@monsurhabib]

I get things wrong when i am measuring every thing. Weird , but true. Rather when i put things based purely on how i 'feel' they are , i get it right to almost 80%

[@gailgassen8670]

This was great I learned a lot thank you for this sample!

[@wolf7379]

Your English is very good and understandable. Thank you for your patience. All the best. :)

[@davegordon6737]

YOU finished to quick!!! I love this girl...the teacher that is..

[@georgearthurmantiri]

Thank very much :-) God bless, from Indonesia :-)

[@goldstar9174]

This is absolute gold!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[@Faridaily]

The wonderful thing about this technique, if you want to call it that, is something you can do without even using any kind of tools when it's practiced enough. You can do it just by looking at the paper and getting some fairly accurate measurements without even trying.

[@wolf7379]

True. I agree in general with your comment. It is always when there is so much information to take on, which is usually the case when beginning something new, that one feels overwhelmed. Thank you for the comment. :)

[@ShannenMatnarudin]

@DistressSignal there was one thing that i was taught in life-drawing that i find very helpful and it was to draw vertical lines, first by starting from a certain point then moving outwards either side of the original line. I'd say measuring does help to an extent if kept to a minimum, however measuring every detail i personally find unnecessary

[@turgorojare575]

Damn, everything she said is SO useful!

[@iamintaiwan]

Not sure who this lady is, could not find her name, but she is truly gifted. I have been teaching for over 20 years but have only discovered a talent for painting a year ago. Great lesson, much appreciated. Hope she reads this cause I also have a question. How can I paint a face but much smaller, like 1 or 2 inches in width? I just can't find a paintbrush that will let me do that. Gilles

[@wolf7379]

Thanks for your comment. Yes, you are probably right. For me, all this measuring is quite tedious. It made me realize how much more there is to learn. Once again thanks for replying - especially in English. It is not always easy to communicate in another language. :)

[@Curmudgeon2012]

I don't do sight size drawing like the presenter, but I was taught, in every drawing and figure drawing class I've ever had (and I've got a Masters Degree) to use the structural method based on the Canon of Human Proportions as put forth by anybody from Vitrius to Da Vinci to Walter Foster. It is and always has been standard academic training.

[@Mahalakshmi-jc7ss]

Great teacher 🙏

[@chelseayzel]

Wow this is GOLD!

[@raffachannel6071]

Pelajaran yang sangat bermanfaat..

[@BigDaddyZakk420]

Fantastic information, very useful stuff !

[@dynomax101]

@cutthegames You are absolutely correct. Her method is valid, but other artists might do it with different tools, or even out of their heads. And, since she's explaining the technique in detail, it comes out more complex looking than it might be for her when she's actually painting.

[@DonJusko]

Nice going Perri, your head has to be in the same place always. The brake in the mouth is also the teeth line when they smile.

[@priscillaedwards9358]

Awesome teacher

[@Curmudgeon2012]

Now you have made a case wherein I can agree with parts. People will always measure. The overall piece has to work even if the measuring is off: a la Ingres. But Ingres knew he was "breaking" the rules and "mis-measuring" for the sake of the overall composition. That has nothing to do with "feeling" and everything to do with good composition. I'm glad you have come around to a rational explanation rather than just blaming the "system" used. Gotta go paint. It's been fun.

[@DistressSignal]

@Shan2809 Well, if your drawings aren't turning out very proportionate or realistic, and your drawing doesn't really look like the person, then you'll know why. Personally, I notice a huge improvement in the quality of my drawings when I actually sit down and pay attention to the measurements, even for just guidelines.

[@TheDeadlyBees]

1:21 Delilah: "Are you saying I got weird facial proportions??"

[@TheDeadlyBees]

4:03 Delilah: "Yep, she's making fun of my forehead now."

[@TheDeadlyBees]

9:20 Delilah: "Oh God, I'm DEFINITELY missing Game of Thrones. Crap."

[@amgozo2007]

😂😂😂

[@bplatz829]

I don't do portraits anymore, I just don't enjoy it as much, I do landscape and still life, but it's the exact same principles for getting placement and proportion right. Would you like to see those? Even the first drawing class I took in art school was not taught this way. Doing it visually is the widely accepted way to paint or draw or whatever you're doing because it works and produces a much better result. Which art school did you go to?

[@Sergueio]

This is a great technique for beginners (I guess we all are, coming to KZbin to learn how to be artists, are we?) to develop skills and train the eye. Time, practice, and hopefully talent would allow to do this without the lines and the crosses but -in my opinion- always measuring and taking care of proportions, no matter which method. Now, MsUnifa... what any of all this has to do with "modern art"?

[@RensoArt]

very useful lesson, thanks

[@jeffhreid]

Excellent tips

[@a83crossover]

@baddestbarbii makes a valid point. It's not necessary to be this mechanical. There are people who draw very precise without learning the basics sitting techniques. My step-son was 3 with a natural shooting form(basketball). He picks up things from sight and practice. When I try to break basketball moves down, he gets bored and misses the overrall point. Most people drive without knowing how to build an engine...

[@YuvakTuladhar]

I know some people work well by measuring and some still do great by not measuring. It depends on what you find comfortable but for most beginners the measuring helps even though sometimes it may lead to rigid images.

[@davidbradford478]

Love your work

[@leesa5118]

Hi there. Loved this video, you are a great teacher. I would love to get a pair of those measuring calipers but can't find anything like it on the net. Could you tell me where you bought them from, or what their exact name is?

[@aerohplanes]

i love how she teaches everyone to hold their arm against the easel while measuring then towards the end she does exactly what she said you shouldnt do, stand away from the easel :p

[@DrDonSharpe]

when she was MEASURING she did exactly what she said and measured at the edge of the easel. When she was matching angles, it wasn't necessary

[@andrealemondillahunty9202]

DrDonSharpe no

[@manikandaeswaran2767]

So aR Aeroh

[@tegian732]

This video sooo helped me in painting👌

[@marcelomedrano57]

Gracias Maestra. Excelente información.

[@VenusSatanas]

i know it seems mechanical and very detailed but these are the things that you'd learn in art school. you should take some time to understand proportion, so that when you draw or paint you can spot your trouble areas and know how to fix them.

[@toniacock]

very interesting...where can we see the rest of the lesson?

[@xeshan101]

beautiful way to learn

[@rehartanto2012]

Oh, and by the way, you can also work with photography and projection. That's easier, and faster too. I've been doing that for quite some time. But in the end, it doesn't satisfy me either. It limits me so much and I become heavily dependent on photography. I did photography tracing to avoid "hard work" like this practice but now that I'm unsatisfied, I'm seriously considering to learn it from the beginning. Too mechanical? So be it. I'm done with photography. :D

[@jvhomes2000]

Thank you very much to share your art I hope you keep making videos Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@a83crossover]

My analogies are proper for the original argument, which wasn't about being a professional, but about learn and gain proficiency doing a task; In this case how to draw likeness. This is one way to do it, and it requires additional tools, a live model, and is very mechanical. If an artist is talented enough likeness can be achieved with only a pencil, paper and practice. It may or may not take longer, but it's definately doable.

[@nossasenhoradoo871]

I have trouble with faces. this is great!

[@walshy2116]

Awesome Info. Thanks so much for this!

[@jaimecarvalho1264]

I went to art collage for year never learnt this, in fact never learnt anything.

[@das1054]

sorry to hear that. art colleges are scams. you should have went to design schools like art center or fzd school

[@MrBazzuu]

Lol same thing.3 years and they never mentioned anything like this

[@LenaAllentickleme]

I did too! Made me mad! Did not learn a thing! But I did not go for a year. I already knew what they taught.. but just a little he he

[@sir_brian_d]

hopefully you learned to stop doing pointless things before years go by :)

[@ByDesign333]

@@sir_brian_d tell it ....by mid term of 2nd year l got out of mine!

[@kaydenc9428]

But the end result of that portrait was on the title and ending page and it looked nothing like the model

[@VossData]

It's mostly because she's not accurate enough in her measurements. Partly due to it being a demonstration (it's slightly rushed!) but also partly due to not double measuring the 'right' type of measurement for likness (facial triangle) on top of the regular 'landmark' areas. If she had spent much longer measuring, the likeness would likely be much greater. She obviously has control over the medium, and it's a great starting point for beginners.

[@darkenrahl2007]

this might seem tedious and superfluous but it is a necessity unless you're going to make a caricature portrait. explaining it is indeed taking a lot of time since after you know this theory the artist would indeed be doing all this in the head and use the charcoal as measurer and indeed go superfast.

[@vladelmos]

It is comparative measurement what she is using?Any expert knows? just want to be sure

[@nancygoyal4221]

It is really very useful

[@mykel714]

I would like to find out about the proportional caliper she is using as well ( MR ARTISTIC GUY) asked previously. Proportional calipers STEEL ones start @ $99 to $275. I like the PLASTIC ones but I cannot find them anywhere. Only steel offered at Art Supplies for not less than $99. Tthe kind used for Sculptors is not the same.

[@rehartanto2012]

Yes, I feel like that too. But then, you know, when I just give it a go my own way, most of the time the results are just way under my expectation. I think that's because I don't have a solid basic knowledge and only limited experience. It's a very structured way of traditional approach toward realism in portraiture and is useful for beginners. I think if you be patient and practice it long enough, it'll get easier and later on you'd have good sensibility to just go intuitively with good result.

[@itsudot]

I have 20 ! Too lovely to use !

[@lungflogger9]

the instructor is a babe! the hair, the skin and bone structure - someone should paint her.

[@finipot]

All the measurements are required only if you want to get likeness of what is in you sight. But it is a free world!

[@fionajenkins5047]

Very informative.

[@NB-ky5ol]

Very informative!

[@jig9978]

No se puede traducir al castellano? noto que me serviría de mucho esta explicación, ¡lástima que entienda bien el Inglés

[@jimer4444]

Excellent teaching...thank you

[@TheTerry000]

Great lessons. Can you tell me where I can pickup a set of calipars like you are using in this video. Thank you.

[@gailgassen8670]

Terrence Graham ....the calibers she used look like acurese , hoping I spelt that right. I believe it's 2 c's tho they have a web site & run 12.99 in cost I believe. Amazon has them but the shipping is more so I just went to the web site. Jason Morgan/wildlife artist uses them & that's who gave the information where to get them. Hope you find them I'm excited for mine to get here. Jason has another video using them it very informative.

[@jeffhreid]

It’s called a prospek you can buy one online from Jerry’s Artarama cost is about $10 it can be used to enlarge or reduce an image by 3x

[@maurelioc]

Hello everyone, I'm typing from Brazil, using a translator. I have a doubt .. The face has the size of a palm. This is the size of the face we put on paper. Those ratios that measure teacher by far not be smaller in relation to the size of the actual face we put on paper? Would not it be sure to measure closely enough to seem real, since the initial ratio we place is the size of a real face? I appreciate if someone can answer. thank you

[@mohamedzakymohamedzanaty3438]

من خلال جهاز القامة نقدر نحسب المسافة بين داش الاستديا بالضرب ×100 = المسافة المرصودة

[@maxsun3479]

I love your reply so much. Made my day.

[@janhomes50]

She knows what she's talking about. . . I went to a great Art School , The Atelier Studio of Fine Art, in Minneapolis. They taught this way. . . many people there with Art Degrees from Good Colleges and Universities, who said they'd never learned Art before coming there..... common story.

[@susyaguero8968]

Please traducción español❤️❤️❤️

[@4729311]

muy bien las clases de arte excelente tambien me dedico al arte, seria bueno en español muchas gracias

[@millions2nette]

Where can I get that caliper!

[@anisarchitect6473]

wonderful

[@mistermjones20092]

great lesson, very helpful to me.

[@dynomax101]

@EnzoTheBaker Models often are nervous, because they're afraid they'll spoil the painting if they move. And it's obvious, from this lady's methods, that the model HAS to keep exact positioning, or the method will go awry. That can make a person nervous. My experiences drawing people is that it's best to sort of average out the measurements, see what they actually are, and let the model relax. Then, I'm able to try and draw the person rather than measurements, but to each his/her own.

[@SocratesAlexander]

Try using the other end of your measuring device! :D

[@Gigi_Latrottola]

Quel compasso rosso che usa per prendere le misure da dove arriva? E' forse un compasso di riduzione per cartografi oppure si trova nei negozi di belle arti?

[@Destitutebroadcast]

great lesson

[@loutillman936]

Thankyou for that tip on resting hand on easel !!

[@delhatley1427]

where do you find the calipers the artist is using in Steps to a likeness: oil portraits video? Thanks for any help Del