I noticed it was difficult to measure a large subject and fit is on a smaller page in my journaling book.  It is important to measure correctly because it will throw off the balance of the sketch although you can adjust. Some of my subjects were more difficult I think, because of the size & depth.   A flat subject was easier.

It Was Difficult! Too hot to find any animals out so got gestures and proportions from soccer field — using human dimensions. Fortunately for me, a killdeer and some urban birds showed up on sign fixtures so I captured some wildlife too. I used videos for gesture inspiration of funny owls & also negative space around the theee.

I have been pleased with the measuring technique and have selected two places for my sit spots. I have a water fountain and the birds like to visit but are not sure about me.  So over a period of time I have been sketching them or the fountain when I was lacking birds.  I also starting taking photos when I can catch them so I could get the various angles and markings on the birds.  One afternoon I sat at the beach and was open to any and all subjects.  I think birds are a challenge because they move so much and in so many directions, children are tricky too.  I have found that proportion is relative to other subjects, so mostly I am just working on getting familiar so I can see and capture the different perspectives.  This is actually leading me into an idea for a composition with the fountain.  I just need to have more birds bathing and splashing.  I might get a journal page yet. Pat

I took a prior class that covered drawing proportions, and I hated that one too. I find it very difficult and don't really know what I am doing. But, of course, proportion is important, or drawings look lopsided and odd. I guess I will have to keep at it. I also was introduced to negative space not too long ago. It didn't make sense then, but this time, it made much more sense and is quite interesting. I tried a drawing in the field as Liz did in this lesson. Using the measuring technique, or at least trying to, I think that I got the proportion of the leaves more accurate. They became larger and larger the closer that they got to the ground. My first attempts were too small. Thank goodness for erasers. I was interested to observe the negative space between the leaves. But I didn't have much time to develop the drawing.

Did a sketch had time and finished it. Notes were added after to the photo. I need the practice

i i went to the Cornell Botanical Gardens after dinner, I had a long day at work so I decided I should have a relaxing night of sketching and took my camera with me also so I could sketch more thoroughly in the near future from a photograph. I have noticed a few things about the Globe Amaranth when I was sketching it that in my mind it was very delicate flower with so much detail , the flower looked like it was alone by it's self which drew me to sketch it and being a soft color of purple. The Iris was in a different part of the gardens and love them it was a beautiful purple with yellow; some are probably thinking my favorite color is Purple, not so but it's beautiful you can guess if you want on my favorite color......

I started drawing one and it was way off and I decided instead of getting frustrated I decided to draw a second one which came out better. I find that I am better at actually drawing positive space shapes than negative, but I am getting used to drawing negative space with practice

Away from the birds, I measured the proportion of my camera and its tele-lens. I used a pencil (I prefer ink though). The technique as a technique is very useful. It is very helpful for still-life and a subject that isn't moving much - not for fast birds. With time and practice the sight is being trained to measure without this technique; I rarely use it because I'm not that patient :/ - I'm here to train myself , I'll give it a try with future drawing. -

• I think that this technique was very useful to get better proportions.

I started with something that I thought I would succeed at.   In my backyard, on a hot day, I worked on drawing a pot on the end of a bench.   The bench is very weathered, with many subtle colors and two patches of lichen.   I tried.  I am not happy with the way the shadow cast by the pot came out.  I have not finished with this.  This is not an ambitious attempt.  The lines are simple.  I thought beginning with a subject with easy-to-measure proportions would be best.

I definitely like using my writing utensil as a measuring tool while drawing to help with proportion & accuracy. I had forgotten about using that & negative space in finding the correct proportion & accuracy in my drawings. Also I have a 6 inch ruler too. Yes, I have found that proportion is easier on landscapes, animals that aren’t moving quickly, and a single animal (than a group of animals), & some simple plants. I have noticed that my proportion was badly off which was leading to not be accurate with my drawings. Big improvement.

Enjoyed this exercise, proportions for me is something I will need to keep practicing and reminding myself to check-

It is easier to draw a stable animals and to the measurements. This technique has enabled me to make a better capture of the subject and manage my inconsistency about drawing a body. I like what Lis has done with the pencil and I have tried to repeat the same  with the animals. I found interesting to draw both the penguin and the owl. By watching Lisa's video, i have recalled the importance of negative space and I am planning to draw more flowers to get the habit of proportions.

It took a lot of fiddling to get the proportions right.  I lost it at the bottom where the legs meet the perch.  I find I need to pause quite often as I am working to remind myself to use the proportion tools.

This drawing is of a pool in a stream, and there was a log laying in the stream close the near side. I was tempted to draw the log very close, with about a third of the visible river between me and the log. However using the proportion techniques, it was clear that in my frame, only about of a third of what I could see of the stream lay beyond the log, and two thirds on my side of the log. I think this observation helped me to capture the depth of the landscape a little more accurately.

It was quite challenging to draw the negative space, because I kept wanting to draw the shape of the flamingo and had to check myself to return to the negative space. But on and all was an interesting exercise

I was not sure how this would go but sometimes forcing yourself to draw moving animals can result in a favorite sketch. I tried to capture the different poses of the vultures. I sat on a convient log and drew for 45 min. I also took photos.  Later, I fixed hastily drawn sections. I tried to use measuring to get the proportions right. I looked at negative spaces. After a while, my hand/eye coordination improved. I colored my flamingo negative shape drawing to jazz it up.

Great tip! I knew my proportions was something I had to work on. I used it in this activity and feel like it really helped. I used a photograph so it was easy not to have a moving object. I tried it later on a squirrel and that guy moved way to fast!!

I think with more practice I will definitely be able to have better proportion in the field. It's a good guideline to make sure everything is more accurate and looks like a more professional drawing. Also, when the drawing is better I find it to be less distracting with reviewing the notes and information written down in the observation.

I challenged (and tortured!) myself with making a drawing of a picture of a Broad bellied darter  I made last year. The complexity of its body with  its very specific wing shapes and delicate maze pattern was overwhelming.  In addition to getting the right proportions, finding the right mutual angles between  the wings, the body and the reed  was a particular challenge. Concentrating on negative spaces between those parts fortunately guided me through this minefield…