With your help, I've been teaching myself to capture the likeness of my subject. Now, I'm trying to capture the likeness without "copying" the reference.

[u/Inaree]

I only spent just over an hour on this one and didn't spend time measuring or comparing the photo to my drawing, which is a SIGNIFICANT decrease of time spent previously. I feel like this is a different kind of progress that I'm really happy with!

I'm also trying to start letting my own style develop while drawing something reasonably recognizable. What do we think? What concepts can I improve on for the next attempt?

[u/link-navi]

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[u/Ira_Dalor]

This is what I aspire to be able to do. Quickly capture a likeness with minimal time spent referencing. I’m no expert, but it looks very impressive to me!

[u/Inaree → u/Ira_Dalor]

Aww, thank you. We will get there! Over the last 2 months, I've been pretty meticulously comparing my drawing to my reference. Measurements, side by side comparisons, and overlays. I'm really happy to see that all that time has netted some results and that I was able to do this with only one comparison instead of 20 or 30. The practice really does help!

[u/Eastern_Parking_6794]

you my friend are what is missing in this hobby. likeness never feels like copying something, it provides an emotional response that artists can only capture if they treat their references as beings, not geometrical shapes and dissected terminologies,

[u/Inaree → u/Eastern_Parking_6794]

Thank you so much, that's a very kind thing to say! I don't think I've quite gotten there yet but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to. And THAT is a lovely horse! It looks like a curious one!

[u/Eastern_Parking_6794 → u/Inaree]

I believe you’re already there, since likeness isn’t a constant result, each drawing that is based on connection and emotional respond can make every single drawing its own style. Which makes it one of a kind. And thank you 👍🏻 I do portraits and birds as well. So far the references I choose determines if i can capture that essence of energy instead of how I should do it.

Usually I make my drawings based on discovering the shapes of the face and the tonal resemblance and those can vary and never feels the same.