OK 1 - hand sketching versus copying an image

+ Copying: tracing paper, grid method, proportional dividers, copying over a layer in app

+ Hand: starting with raw sketch, pinpointing a starting spot, and branching out from there

2 - this video is on hand sketching using multiple images from one photo generated by Midjourney which will push the challenge of hand sketching, which will be seen in this video

3 - Demo of hand sketching

4 - Self-checking: how close to you want to get if you don't have a teacher? Demo of matiching the image to your sketch

 

 

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When we draw, our eyes play tricks on us. We don’t always see the important curves or details clearly. If we’re looking at a live model, we never see the same pose twice long enough to study it. Even with photos, a single angle hides a lot of what makes the form real.

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That’s why seeing an object from multiple angles is so valuable. Without that, we tend to fall back on pre-conceived images — drawing what we think a hand looks like instead of what’s actually there.

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Perspective complicates this even more. Parts that are closer appear larger, while parts farther away appear smaller. This is forced perspective, and it can make things look exaggerated even though we know the objects are the same size.

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The way to overcome this is repetition. Sketch the same object again and again, but from different views. As you do, you begin to understand its form in space. Eventually, you can even build the form from memory. Repetition also builds patience and focus, which are as important as accuracy.

 

A sketch, at its core, is just a rough depiction. To bring it closer to a finished, professional image, you re-sketch. Each pass smooths lines, strengthens proportions, and clarifies the form. Even the most stunning sketches often started as roughs that were reworked.

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Now, not all drawings start rough. There are many copying methods — tracing paper over a photo, a grid system, proportional dividers, rulers, compasses, or even tracing layers in a digital app.

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These tools produce accuracy in one view, but they don’t build your ability to sketch freely.

Hand sketching is different. You start with a rough, pick a reference point on the form, and measure outwards — top to bottom, left to right. One shape leads to the next until the whole image comes together. Tools like compasses or dividers can help, but the main tool is your eye and how you see relationships.

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Finally, if you want to check your accuracy without a teacher, you can put your sketch into a drawing program alongside the photo and compare. Adjust lines or even re-sketch. But remember: “good enough” is often the right goal. Especially with small details, it’s more important to suggest than to perfectly reproduce.