P R O P O R T I O N

INTRODUCTION

Sketches are not usually made to a specific scale, although it can be handy to do so at times. The size of the sketch depends on its complexity and the size of the paper available. The most important rule in freehand sketching is to keep the sketch in proportion, which means to accurately represent the size and position of each part in relation to the whole. No matter how brilliant the technique or how well drawn the details, if the proportions are off, the sketch will not look right.

To maintain proportions, first determine the relative proportions of height to width and lightly block them in. You can mark a unit on the edge of a strip of paper or use your pencil (as in Figure 1: Estimating Dimensions) to gauge how many units wide and high the object is.

Grid paper can help you maintain proportions by providing a ready-made scale (by counting squares). As you block in the medium-size areas, and later as you add small details, compare each new distance with those already established.

Estimating Dimensions

STEPS IN MAINTANING PROPORTION IN DRAWING

Drawing is a complex skill. You need to learn things like manual skill, pencil techniques, precision, perspective, gesture, anatomy, light and shadow... But even when you're a master of it all, even if your picture has all these elements in place, there still may be something wrong with it. This elusive factor is called composition.

If you are working from a given picture, such as this utility cabinet, first establish the relative width compared to the height. One way is to use the pencil as a measuring stick. In this case, the height is about 1-3/4 times the width.

Sketch the enclosing rectangle in the correct proportion. This sketch is to be slightly larger than the given picture.

Divide the available drawer space into three parts with the pencil by trial. Hold your pencil about where you think one third will be and then try that measurement. If it is too short or long, adjust the measurement and try again. Sketch light diagonals to locate centre of the drawers and block in drawer handles. Sketch all remaining details.

Darken all final lines, making them clean, thick, and black

QUICK TIPS IN DRAWING CORRECT PROPORTIONING

Things you should be doing when starting a drawing;

Spend more time looking/measuring, less time drawing
Assign numbers to the sizes of objects
Consider the spaces in between objects
Draw lightly to start
Use dots, lines, and simple geometric shapes to indicate the presence of objects
Re-measure using several different reference objects

ACTIVITY: Let's give a try!

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Composition

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