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!

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[lorenknowles]

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.

[algernonwolfwhistle]

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.

[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.

[AAWOLFE-zcly]

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...

[Brovillion]

I used the rule of 3 when I started drawing. Just draw anything 3 times for however long you have the time. Eventually your proportions get better, shading gets better and so on. Then one day you will nail it. I kinda see like learning how not to draw and then being an artist all of a sudden. Practice makes improvement

[WishingIWasDead]

As a high school student who does art, I sat through this video practicing my charcoal sketches, and it honestly gave me confidence in my art and made me realize that even though I may not have the skill I want at the moment, I can always be positive and think forward

[SonneSuppe]

This is my first comment on YouTube 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

[vkpskulls]

I’m 50 years old now. I spent a lot of time in my youth drawing. I haven’t done much in the past 20years, but I’ve committed to an hour a day focusing on portraits. I appreciate the wealth of information freely shared. Thank you. I’m falling in love with drawing again.

[XxRaphaellxX]

Your voice is like music to my ears and your artworks are fallen pieces of heaven itself.

[rustymetty]

Just the inspiration I needed. I was the kid who could draw and even got a degree in graphic design & illustration. I ended up spending the next 28 years as a UX designer in software. It’s been a wonderful career, and I’m immensely grateful for it. I’ve been doodling and sketching again for the first time in eons though, and it feels great. You’ve inspired me to continue to reconnect with my original passion. Thank you—and truly beautiful work, Jeff.

[kelleyspartiatis]

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.

[savvysod]

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.

[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.

[Co_olImagination]

My art teacher told us that she had to draw a thousand circles for her homework so she would become good at drawing circles and as I grew up, I realized it doesn’t just only work for circles…

[Lolzzzx-oe]

Dissatisfaction is something I truly struggle with, it always feels like u can’t do anything right &no matter how much compliments u get other peoples criticism hurts even if u hate the drawing urself

[g.e.whitman]

title should be "Earl Nightingale tells you how to get good at drawing"

[elliesaunderson]

I am not an artist but love to draw and now I am ready to learn more. Your videos are easy to watch and your voice so soothing. Thank you!

[sunil]

Your progress as an artist relies on a healthy dissatisfaction with everything you've done up until this point. Wow!! So true 👍

[eduardg.]

short and very explanatory, this is by far the best video about drawing portraits, i got very motivated

[incognito]

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.