Prepare to Draw chapter 4
To the right is a diagram showing two different ways to measure
the height and width of the vase. The unit of measurement,
denoted by black lines, compares the height of the vase to its
width. Note that, as a comparison, the measurement of the
width of the vase only reaches to the bottom of the neck, verti-
cally, on the vase.
The red lines denote a measuring scale, using the width of the
vase’s spout. Note that the height of the vase is four-and-one-
half times the width of the spout. When you draw, you can plan
out the proportions of your subject with this information. This
plan lets you achieve the right shape and proportion.
Of course, you can designate any portion of the vase as the unit
of measurement. To maintain consistent measurements, always
have your arm fully extended, not bent at the elbow, and main-
tain the same standing or sitting position each time you measure
your subject.
This figure drawing shows you an example of how this technique
can work in different situations. Here the length of the head,
from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, has been used
to determine the height of the figure.
The width
of vase as a
unit of
measurement
reaches to just
below the
spout.The height
of the vase
is 4 1/2 times
the width of
the top of
the spout.In this drawing
the subject is
almost exactly
3 1/4 heads
high, from the
top of his head
to the chair
he is sitting on.Figure Study, by J. S. Robinson