I DON'T use the Loomis method for drawing the head
My full deeper dive walkthrough tutorial: www.beneblen.com/tutorial
It includes:
🎥 8+ hour real-time walkthrough,
📚 40+ page Field guide,
🗿 3D models to study from,
🗂 PSD files & a Procreate tutorial to reference from
Get it here → www.beneblen.com/tutorial
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Time Stamps
0:00 - Intro
0:32 - Different Head Drawing Methods
0:46 - The Problem I had with Stylisation
1:51 - The Realisation
2:37 - Frank's Ad Read
3:47 - Big Shapes
4:11 - Leading Lines
4:33 - Triangles and Whistle
5:29 - Features and 3D Thinking
6:05 - Style Reference
6:32 - Be careful with blindly copying
7:12 - Kim Jung Gi "Invisible Lines"
7:37 - Asking 'Why' and Centrelines
8:12 - There's no 'Right Way' to do anything
Getting caught up in the “there is only one way to do things” kind of thinking, really held me back in my artistic development. As soon as I realised that I could pick and choose the key things I learned from each head drawing technique, the freedom gates opened and it was game on!
Below are some further study references I recommend for you to build your own, custom artistic tool belt 👇👇👇!
Loomis method Videos 🎥:
* Proko: • Quickly Draw Heads wit...
* Proko: • How to Draw the Head f...
* Tim Mcburnie: • The Truth about the "...
* Mark Brunet: • 👱 Learn to Draw the He...
Loomis method books 📚:
* Drawing the head and hands (Andrew Loomis) : amzn.to/3Fr1i1E
* Figure Drawing for All it's Worth (Andrew Loomis): amzn.to/3Jizw8z
Reilly Method Videos 🎥: Proko: • The Abstraction - Reil...
Reilly Method Books 📚:
* Mastering Drawing the Human Figure: From Life, Memory, and Imagination: amzn.to/3Ltf2N5
Steve Huston’s Method Video 🎥:
* How to Draw the Head (3 HOURS!): • 👧 How to Draw the Head...
Steve Huston’s Method Book 📚:
* Figure Drawing for Artists: Making Every Mark Count: amzn.to/3yFUppq
Michael Hampton’s Method Video 🎥:
* Head Drawing Video: • Head Drawing: From Con...
Michael Hampton’s Method Video 📚:
* Figure Drawing: Design and Invention: ****amzn.to/3yD2NG8
Kim Jung Gi Video: • Interview & Demonstrat...
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🎙 Check out my podcast where I dive deep into the art of creating content -
makenowthinklater.com
🍿WATCH NEXT:
* Character Design Challenge S1, E1 • Character Design 3 wor...
📚 MY TUTORIALS:
8 hour walk through stylisation tutorial
beneblen.gumroad.com/l/styliz...
🔗 MY KEY LINKS
🌍 My website / blog - www.beneblen.com
🐦 Twitter - / bennyeblen
📸 Instagram - / ben_eblen_design
WHO AM I?: I'm an 🎨 illustrator, 👨💻 developer, 🎤 podcast host , ⚡️ chaser of 'aha' moments and I love sharing my process and findings online.
💌 Sign up to my free email newsletter to my curated resources and tips on art, behind the scenes on content and updates from me!
wondrous-artist-7432.ck.page/...
PS: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links that I get a kickback from
If you enjoy this kind of stylized stuff, I think you'll like my full deeper dive walkthrough tutorial www.beneblen.com/tutorial It includes... a 🎥8+ hour real-time walkthrough, 📚 40+ page Field guide, 🗿3D models to study from, 📁PSD files & a Procreate tutorial to reference from
Looking forward to more of your vids!
This is a misunderstanding of Loomis. Loomis himself showed that there was multiple shapes of the skull like it's fitted into a specific shape. You can make the "Circle" more square, more triangle, literally anything. Obviously it's not near as stylized as yours but... still.
you might've forgot to pin this but I'd suggest doing so. edit: and the video ends a little abruptly. but its a really awesome video, just wanna give a lil feedback cause i really wanna see more :D
Completely ripped from Loomis's "Fun with a pencil". Don't use Loomis my ass.
Ben, do the tutorial videos have subtitles in Portuguese?
That's one high quality video! Great job, Ben!
Hi Sinix, you're a legend sir! I got a whole notebook full of your lessons!
Highly agreed, informative and educational.
Holy shit! Hi there Sinix
Agreed, I had the same mentality as Ben did until watching this video
If sinix himself commented on this then this most be a gem of a video.
I think there's some place in the books where Loomis himself said his method isn't something to be strictly adhered to, but is just a general guide as a starting point. And his goal in developing and using the method was to just get proportions more consistent for what he considered an idealized appearance. (In "Fun with a Pencil" he does more caricature stuff than the kind of thing he's more traditionally associated with. And it gets into geometric forms as part of shape language just like this video. If you can't find it at a library, there are ways of using the internet.)
Somebody should develop a method of just asking the internet and give it a goofy sounding name so everyone can remember it... like scroogling or something... ;o)
Yeah, I recently read the book, even he skips some parts and some faces don't follow every rule. Weirdly enough, there are some rules that still follow the general proportions, some anime faces have the same proportions of a baby Loomis face.
No one would ever guess that this is your first KZhead video! Super informative and entertaining all the way through! The edit was incredible as well! Great job.
WHAT ???
whaaaaat
I also thought there was plenty of them, imagine my surprise. We really need this guy to upload more.
WHAT
Yeah! really surprised me
What I learned as an artist is that, at the start we follow the rule, then we learn to break them to found our own style. Sadly new artists tend to break the rule early and end up making lots of mistake that could be easly avoided. (Then there is "IA artist" that didn't even started and they already break the rules and end up not even knowing to draw a stick men by themself haha)
Remember that one friend who started drawing at 5 all by himself? That one friend who drew like a pro at 15? Have you ever catched to him? If you have no intention of becoming pro you can just do stuff by yourself out of passion and one day you will wake up good. All those methods and rules... Do not guarantee you anything. If you are overwhelmed by them just drop them and do your thing for a while. If you think about it some of the best "players" in any field of life are those who skip the rules.
@@delanmorstik7619check out Seth Godin book, "the practice" im barely into listening to it and he's got a profound way of observing this phenomenon as being institutionally brainwashed on outcomes-based ideologies and the dynamics behind behaviors like these and how they lead to original innovation thats inherently genuine. It a whole lot more than that but it explains some of the things you observe that seem to happen in a vacuum free of influence but deeper into explaining it as less a savant type of thing. Worth checking out you actually just reminded me to follow up on it lol
@@delanmorstik7619 To a point. Say you are a beginner artist. Using Loomis as an example, say you want to draw and NEVER want to use the Loomis method to draw heads. Even if you never want to use the Loomis method, that DOES NOT mean studying the Loomis method won't teach you anything that will help you improve your art whether you use the Loomis method or not. UNDERSTANDING form is ultimately the key that unlocks the pandoras box to drawing. Loomis doesn't just give you a blue print to draw a head. He helps you understand shape, form. The why of his method (which is what this video is getting at). Understanding why Loomis does what he does, is why studying the Loomis method will help you whether you use it or not. Huston has a 3 hour instructional video of drawing the head on youtube. It's not 3 hours of "make a sail boat shape". It's 3 hours of him explaining and demonstrating why and how it relates to the form and shape of the head. You don't have to use it, to get anything out of the instruction and studying/practicing it for yourself.
0:46 WOW Ben, it's like you reached into my brain and pulled out my thoughts. Creating stylized art with structural methods is the exact issue I've been struggling with for years.
Same here! Thank you, Ben!
It's good to see the different methods as guides rather than something to strictly adhere to. Overtime you'll develop a process that is uniquely yours. Thanks for the super informative video!
This is what I want, direct teaching and no cozy trendy effects just for the "vibe". This excites me to draw. Thank you mate
My pleasure A113!
When I first started drawing faces I drew them intuitively, without much guidelines, and I developed a sense for what kinds of proportions I liked in my drawings. Recently I've been trying to brush up on my fundamentals by watching videos about the loomis method, etc. and I could really relate to the idea of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole-- the loomis method helped me to visualize heads from different angles, but it was difficult to apply it to my own style. Thank you so much for all the useful tips! definitely going to check out some of the artists and methods you listed!❤
Thank you sy! Have fun exploring the other artists and methods 😊🙏
You basically did what a beginner artists does when finding their art style never have I thought doing that with structure of anatomy before I CAN’T BELIEVE IT never came to mind for me thank you for sharing this
The thing most beginners (including me) forget is that even though you may get advice from others but its not guaranteed to work because your hand movement may not adapt to it. I like to just trust my hand flow, remember anatomy studies and loosely use references. I still like to remember methods for certain things and I try to study anatomy daily but you have to remember, your art is just how you imagine and execute your thoughts on paper.
Loomis makes it very clear in his book that the ''loomis method'' is supposed to help the student to think about the head as a 3d structure, while also teaching the basics of construction in drawing. I find it annoying when I come across these KZhead videos going about the ''loomis method'', as if his book was only that, when in fact, only the first couple pages are about this basic construction. He talks about the importance of thinking about planes and gives us a basic planed head (simpler than the asaro, btw). His book covers anatomy, tone, expressions, rhythm, shape design and common mistakes beginners make. Loomis deserves A LOT more credit :)
What you've hit on here is something most young would-be artists usually miss completely; that their favorite art is just a stylistic choice. I've lost count of the number of youngsters that have had a fit at their art instructors giving them hell for drawing anime/manga characters. They just don't understand that the teacher is trying to show them how to draw anatomy correctly, and to get the basics down, before they go on to modify or stylise a character. They just want to jump right in and reproduce what they've seen without understanding exactly what has been altered and why. The fact is, if you want to draw a realistic human head, as you would when drawing someone's portrait, then there is a particular method for doing that. BUT... if you're working on an animated series, and need to exaggerate facial expressions so that they come across well on a small TV screen, then you've gotta make some adjustments from the normal range of real human feature. And since the people who teach art at the place you'll go to get an art degree are supposed to be turning out good general artists... they don't teach that stuff, nor want students picking up "bad habits" that only make the instructor's job harder. ( Sorry, but real girls don't have pointy chins, eyes the size of saucers, and mouths you couldn't force a greased grape through. 🤣 )
Loving the jazzy vibes, and varied visuals. This suits you so much! I'm so impressed by how quickly you've picked up the Youtubing thing. You've become one of my favorite teachers and artists. As always, see you where it all started, the live streams!
Same 😊
I totally agree: For many years I thought that the Loomis method is important for drawing. But I struggled with it, because every head looked the same and not even good. For me it was always a frustrating method that kept me to bounderies and blocked creativity.
You just help me realize why I had always quit drawing so frequently: I was so stuck trying to draw a certain type of way that when I ran into problems that couldn't be solved with that method it just made me give up. Just like in life your drawing toolkit has to have a variety of different tools or you're stick using a hammer for everything!
I love everything about this. Awesome information, snappy editing, but you're super chilled out and easy to listen to. Can't wait for more Ben!
This one video completely unlocked stylized portraits for me, thank you so much for your take on this, incredibly helpful
The strong and clear visual communication via animated overlays/strokes/3D model interpolations & turnarounds makes this one of the easiest to digest tutorials on a complicated topic. Keep up the excellent work!
THIS IS THE KIND OF ILLUSTRATION IVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE. Yes! Yours is kind of like a Tex Avery/Chuck Jones style, updated and brought into the 3d style. I love it. Please upload more.
The edits are amazingly clear and the information is taught in such a simple and easy to understand way keep up the good work man
This video is completely relatable. I've tried using the Riley method for every approach in my studies and has held me back eversince. This is a complete game changer. Thanks, Ben.
The 3D models and visual demonstrations are INSANELY helpful! And I really appreciate you breaking down your thought processes and explaining the synthesis that contributes to growth. You're 'lifting the curtain' on the mind of an artist, so to speak.
I’ve been struggling with portraits for months now. Following this video helped me tremendously with anatomy issues and help me find a personal style. Thanks so much.
The most valuable educational content on a platform on KZhead not when people teach you how to do a thing, but when people share how all of the other teaching content out there has failed them. There’s nothing more relatable and helpful than somebody saying “I also had trouble with X Y or Z. Here’s how I overcame this, and maybe it will help you too.” Brilliant video! Instant subscribe and I went to binge the rest of your content-only to realize this is your first proper video. My goodness this is good quality.
Thank you Ben! Helping me with reinforcing the idea that I'm literally building my own tools, world, characters, etc from the ground up but there is a required understanding of subjects to allow you manipulate the idea at hand more fluidly. Awesome vid, your communication of the topic was on point!
I was expecting to binge your videos just to find out this was your "first". Good job, this was one of the best art videos in a long time.
I believe that drawing the head is more about comprehending the structure of the skull than adhering to any specific technique. The methods of Loomis and Huston are beneficial because they aid in visualizing the head more effectively. Ultimately, it all comes down to having a deep understanding of the three-dimensional forms.
Your drawing technique and learning style are just wonderful! It combines paying attention to structure, but the main thing still remains a gesture. This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you very much!
This was beyond helpful. It’s like you knew exactly what I’ve been struggling with and explained how to get out of it. Thanks a lot
the way you draw is so expressive, i love it
Thank you for those tips ! The leading line on the edge blew my mind, I never really thought of it but it makes sense now
this was a wonderful video and something id like to add is i really struggle focusing on videos like this usually but the way you edited it kept my full attention and i think thats super impressive
I love this. The Loomis method never resonated for me for a few reasons as well - mechanical, robotic looking results without understanding the reasons for shapes used. Of course, it's successful for a reason - but my view on this is that it's worth putting in the time to understand the Loomis construction instead of just following it blindly. Once you understand how to analyze what you see to derive shapes from everyday life, it's not a bad idea to use the Loomis method as one of the tools to draw faces, especially with repetition. As much as I've been drawing my entire life, I like to credit online resources like Marco Bucci's "10 minutes to better art" for helping me to develop my approach. Ethan Becker is another with fantastic ways to simplify your approach to character design, as well as train your eye to observe like an artist.
What an insane way to start a channel. Amazing tips, great tempo and good editing. Definitely looking forward to see what else you'll show us in the future!
Love this creative shorter form video. Great format/animation and even better advice. Keep it up and thanks!
Amazing video. Informative, to the point. So many art videos just vaguely dabble in ideas for drawing rather than affording actual advice. I actually learned something!!! Awesome work.
This video was absolutly amazing, can't waith for your next post!
This completely opened up a new way of thinking for me! Thanks!
Love this so much!! I can see why it took a while to come out. Definitely high quality and jam packed with very useful info and even new artists im going to go check out right now! Keep it up bro 💪🏽
Great video! I never took these methods as 'the' way I have to draw heads because I felt it was too limiting otherwise, but they are valuable for understanding the head (a good artistic simplification of anatomy) and can provide answers to problems that pop up in a piece. When learning I found that asking yourself why something is useful is a lot more important and also motivating than just blindly following 'rules'; it will also save you a lot of time when learning, because you can quickly implement elements into what you already know.
This video was super helpful and informative, while you kept it fun, visually appealing and interesting. Keep up the good work and can't wait to see more of what you make
I’ve only just found you today, and I massively appreciate how fast-paced your presentation is. It’s all so neurodivergent-friendly, the clearly defined phases and chapters, the flowing motion graphics, and I’m a big fan of the time bar during the cutaway segments and ad reads. Small detail, but they help me understand where to draw my attention.
YES!! it's so ND friendly i appreciate it so much
Great video and explanation. I’ve tried the Reilly method and could never understand it. Michael Hurston ehh ok. loomis was ok as well. I finally got to the point now I have to put my own method in what works for me in my drawings. I love this one artist Loish work and it’s simple how she starts and get the face shape or the eyes and the spacing correct. I started to study the how part as u stated. And once I practiced myself . I’ve noticed a change and saw some of the things I needed to correct in my art. The shape of the face and or gestures and dynamics of whatever I’m drawing were off. Love this vid please do more.❤
Thanks so much! Ahh that’s awesome to hear you’re seeing progress. Loish’s art is amazing and definitely one to learn from 💯. So glad you enjoyed it, and there’s definitely more where this came from!
I am a professional artist myself and I still struggle so much with this x.x it is really difficult to unlearn yourself these weird habits they feed you and then reteach yourself something new, but it's so worth it to finally have your own and unique style that you are absolutely in love with. I was taught how to draw realism and it has been a struggle learning how to create the stylized characters I want for my pieces and stories, but this really helps. Thank you so much!!
It´s a cool fact that you´re as good as drawing as explaining. I really needed this video. Just thanks, Ben.
Great work on your first video Ben!
Thank youu for the video! I have been doing art as a hobby for 11 years now but I still feel so stiff and stagnant in my drawings. Lately I worked on my own quick real life drawings on went back to basic gesture drawings... I have seen a huuge change in my mindset... I approach things differently now and I wish I would`ve seen that years ago. THhis video is a great addition and inspiration for my going back to the basics year I recently started
Really enjoyed this and how you presented the info on various head drawin techniques and the alternatives. Beautiful😊
Really good and incredible video, your explanations are very great! I can already feel myself getting better just by learning more about the whole thought process, especially the "invisible lines" aspect
Honestly man, ive been at the end of my rope with art lately, feeling like none of the methods are working for me, giving me the same head every time give or take, and hearing this is so affirming for me. Thanks man, these kinds of vids help so much.
We want more of these! So good, thank you for sharing! 😊
YES! Glad to see more of your art! It's so inspiring
Thank you!! Glad to see you’re back making videos man 🕺
I’ve never found someone who shows their thoughts in 3D and then how they translate it to 2D until you! That’s been my struggle is thinking in 3d but not always knowing the best way to translate that and wow it made so much sense
I've always noticed when a KZhead channel starts with quality it's likely to be great! Subbed!
Haven't even finished the video yet and you've broken down a major roadblock for me in my creative ventures oddly enough you've even helped me with a hurdle in my writing. I've been held back for so long on so many things because I'm trying to force things into a specific style instead of just taking the bits I like and making my own "me" style Thank you
your art, content, edition, production.. everything is on point. thank you for making this content I think the works behind it shows a lot and at the same time the fact that you use your knowledge to teach us is a privilage.
Thanks so much for the kind words! Really means a lot and so glad to hear you enjoyed it 😊🙏
Oh my! I've been subscribed to your Instagram for a while and yesterday in my KZhead homepage your video appeared! I recognize your style from a mile away I loveeee it! Thank you for gracing us with your tutorials for free. ❤❤
This videos makes me realize that i still stuck in that one rigid way, like OH MY GOD you totally right! why dont i just mix and match, and exploring my visual library instead!? Super entertaining and insighful video Ben, thank you!
Honestly been struggling with this for a long time. Your video was very helpful. Thank you.
quite literally this video improved my ability to draw more dynamic faces immediately !! i am very happy i came across this :'D
your video is so helpful and concise, if you ever do a video on drawing the same characters from different angles and how to keep them consistent it'd be super helpful ! :)
I’ve followed you on insta for quite a while now, and it’s so awesome to see your tips and production quality transitioned into video format! Your mantra of “~it’s just pixels baybeeee~” actually did wonders for me, and the fun that you got out of your work (as well as others, shout out to Struthless and Dr. Draw) inspired me to stop taking my work so seriously (which was holding me back in its own right). Point being,thank you and I’m looking forward to more. ☺️
That's so awesome to hear! And thanks so much for the kind words 😊🙏
YOU’RE LITERALLY A HERO! I am so glad that this came on my recommended
This was insanely helpful! Also, the thing that helps me power through rough patches of drawing is knowing that literally every artist ever has had days where they felt like they were trash and wanted to quit haha. Then you power through it and it's all worth it.
the subject of the video itself was very useful but the editing also makes it both very approachable and enjoyable to watch, great video
i am reallyyyy glad u got to do tutorials i hope u do more of them
Always amazing and extensive content. Keep it up broseph.
So glad I found your channel! You're talking about the very thing I wish other artists would talk about in their explanations of anatomy and style! Your whistle method is very similar to Ethan Becker's. And that's a good thing bc everyone learns differently. Thanks for the vid!
Right on spot. I also have had problem with the approach towards these methods. Great video❤
Maaan... Thank youy so Much Ben! Appreciate your content and sharing your approach!
Saw the titled and was already excited 😆 can’t wait to watch on my free time
Ben this was a fantastic video, I specially liked how you created some 3d shapes to make the explanations clearer. I won a fan today!
Commenting to boost this video because this is so good. I can’t believe it’s this guys first video. Everything is on point, the editing, the teaching itself is very digestible. Really good video!
Appreciate you Toky 😊🙏
this is honestly the most helpful video on drawing I've ever seen!
Wow genuinely one of the best videos I’ve seen on KZhead about drawing. Felt like you were speaking directly to the things I’m struggling with in my drawings. Thank you! Please keep making content
Oh man, that’s awesome to hear, really appreciate the kind words and will do! 😊🙏
very helpful video! i enjoy your informative, down to earth approach.
the thing about copying guidelines and sketching process from timelapses videos is spot on, I just realised I was automaticaly doing that without even thinking why, expecting it to solve all the anatomy problems if I got it exactly like that one artist does in his process.
Now this is what we call a great drawing video! Thank you very much ben!!
Video is incredibly well edited and scripted! Please continue making more videos. Really easy to follow and informative. 🎉
Blew my mind, instant subscribe! Thank you for sharing this and having this general mindset about it - perfect!
what a smooth video to watch well done ben that is a banger, really good notes I took from this, I can't wait to see more videos of other topics like this 👌👌
Such an amazing video, not only that but the tutorials that you publish on twitter are also bangers
this is what I've been looking for... It's hard to break those structures that we've been tought. This video really opens my mind
awesome video!! i sometimes notice my head drawings end up too stiff. i often see my drawings losing that dynamicity and flow, but this helped a looot! hugs from Brasil 🇧🇷
thanks so much for this video! i wouldve never guessed this is your first video! very good and helpful video, ill be sure to check out your walkthrough!!
Dude this video is amazing and honestly helped me realize that what I'm thinking isn't crazy when it comes to just putting lines on a face cus you see it on a video but why. Thank you so much this was awesome 👍🏼
man thank you, this really inspired me! I was kinda struggling with stylization. I'll expand my mental library with your vids and tips hihi
The editing and the way conveying information it's so,good thanks fpr the great lesson ben❤
Excellent video! Loved how you laid this out! Simple and easy to follow.
If no one has told you lately, you are AMAZING! Just found this video, subscribed, & have your course in my cart as we speak. Thank you from the bottom of my big ol' artsy heart!
This the video we all needed
Bro, I rlly LOVE your mindset... Tysm for sharing your experience ^^
the most informative and descriptive video ive watched all year-
Thanks! For this information this helps me grasp WHY shit fell apart when I was doing my studies I will probably get your course later on this summer but this is what I can do to show my thanks 🙏
Personally, I love that centre line for angling the face and getting a sense of direction, and tweaking that direction before all the work of drawing in the features. I find it more helpful than the sides of the face of that purpose ^^ Great video! I see so many make the mistake of thinking art didnt exist before loomis wrote the method down and that loomis is the only way to construct head!
Just Brilliant content! Super informative. Thank you for sharing! 🌸
ohhhhhh yes this is what im waiting for months, ben eblen complete videos
This was brilliant! Thoughtful, useful, personable and real.
Whoa, this makes so much sense. Your art has great style, too. I'm especially impressed by all those open mouths. Those always trip me up.
The open mouths are tricky ones!