Digital Art Bootcamp – Concept Illustration From Reference – Costume & Characters by Ross Draws (Wizard Tier, Bootcamp 1.2)

You should strive for accuracy and form in the early stages of the portrait drawing process . You can always exaggerate certain features once you have a strong foundation. I like to draw my studies right next to my reference image at about the same size. This allows me to compare the two and see any changes that need to be made. Oftentimes, looking quickly back and forth between the image and your drawing will help you see incorrect shapes and angles.

Remember, every correction will make your finished piece better. Analyzing and replicating shapes is a muscle you’ll have to train. In the above image, I started very plainly with the big shadow shapes of the eye sockets and cheek bones, then gradually layered on top of that and added detail. I’m constantly comparing angles to make sure things line up.