Primroses Art

[Chart]

Well, about the tracing. I know at least four people who found out what righteous proportioning meant after they traced references.. including myself - so you can definitely learn how to do it that way. It's simply a 'see-and-draw'-experience that makes you learn.
In the end, you'll do have to practise loose-handed, but the feeling alone would do enough as a base. Ruling could work too, but it definitely takes more time (as you said) and ruling can go wrong easily - measuring distances are usefull, but it won't really contribute to actual positioning, unless you wish to measure every single distance in a picture and then again on your drawing paper.....

The mirroring, by the way, is a very good way indeed. Also, turning your paper and watch it from all sides, works too

[Moldova]

Oh I'm not saying it doesn't work!
I've just heard it's better not to. But really, whatever works. Using your naked eye takes more time, more trial and errors but I think it builds a stronger foundation.
I suppose tracing becomes a problem when you rely on it as the ONLY way you can achieve good proportions.

[Chart]

Oh, but I'm not talking about it as a permanent way to achieve proportioning As I said, drawing from references is much about drawing what you see. Tracing could help with that, since you'll be able to draw and see at the very same time. I agree with you that drawing from naked eye's a stronger foundation, no doubt about it. But a lot of starters have trouble getting through that, and that's where tracing could make a much easier basic

[Ravez]

It's an awesome start I agree with everyone though that you will have to keep an eye on the proportions but its actually beautiful and as I imagine it looks like she is kinda shocked at what shes lookin' ,cute 1 and lovely shading of the hair and glad to see someone my age , I am also 12

[Vampiryan]

I like to copy what I see and only measure sometimes just to make sure. And I'd rather do it this way as maria said it builds a stronger foundation.

[Primrose]

Thanks for all those great help. I tried them out, and I find my own ways to get the proportions. Since this picture I drew a lot, but the laptop of my mum I use usually is "broken". I don't know how to show my pictures on my Dad's PC, and actually he don't know that I use his PC.. I hope that this situation stays. xD So don't wounder why I wasn't online last time.
I worked a lot on the proportions, I hope that I got a bit better. I tried to see mistakes in my pictures when I reflect them in a mirror, and I was suprised how good that works!
Oh, and I got 13 last sunday. But currently I feel more like 12 than 13.

[Vampiryan]

Im looking forward to see your improvement Congrat's for the 13, well I cant tell you it will all feel the same until you reach 16 xD

[reverseengineering]

Nice work. Keep on practicing because as a beginner you are already talented. Hopefully you'll have more to follow. As far as scanners are concerned, try taking a picture on (if you know someone) a phone with a good camera. then e-mail that photo and you can upload it. Might look better.

[fries]

These people have been so nice at giving you tips I dont know what else to say, your shading looks smooth and ive learned that you've improved your proportions so I cant wait to see your next drawing to prove your words.
-Fries

[Joane]

Originally Posted by Moldova

Honestly, though, I wouldn't suggest you trace your reference if you realllly want to be able to do without it. Learning proportions takes a long time, and if you trace it, you won't really learn how to do it on your own.

I totally agree with Maria, I did this for a long and now I'm still really bad with proportions. For a start you can do an in between thing. Try to draw the outlines of everything and then check if your proportions are right by doing the mirror technique, measuring etc. and if you're still not sure, place the drawing over your screen to see what's wrong (the original will shine through). But do it just as a check and not from the start cuz then you won't learn how to draw proportions well . Your reference was a difficult pose, too!

What I really like in your drawing is the highlights that you made in the eyes in her hair and what others said before, that your shading is already very good- I can only agree on that . I hope we'll see more of you