The Art & Science of Drawing / MEASURING & PROPORTION Course

Editorial Take

The Art & Science of Drawing / MEASURING & PROPORTION Course stands out as a rigorously structured entry point for aspiring artists committed to mastering foundational drawing skills. With a laser focus on visual measurement and proportion, it fills a critical gap for beginners who often jump into drawing without understanding how to see accurately. Instructor Brent Eviston delivers a systematic approach that transforms abstract visual challenges into repeatable, learnable techniques. This course doesn’t promise instant artistry, but it does deliver the precision training that separates amateur sketches from professional-grade drawings. By emphasizing observation, comparative measurement, and daily practice, it builds the muscle memory essential for long-term artistic growth.

Standout Strengths

• Methodical Skill Breakdown: The course divides measuring into digestible components like sighting, alignment, and proportional scaling, making complex visual tasks manageable. Each module isolates a specific skill, allowing learners to master one technique before advancing.
• Emphasis on Visual Precision: Through structured exercises, students train their eyes to detect subtle inaccuracies in angles, distances, and alignments. This focus transforms casual observation into active, analytical seeing, a cornerstone of realistic drawing.
• Hands-On Application: Every module includes practical assignments using reference photos and still life setups, ensuring immediate application of theory. These exercises reinforce learning by requiring students to draw while applying measuring tools like the pencil method.
• Reinforcement of Daily Practice: The curriculum is designed to encourage consistent drawing habits, especially in Module 5, which emphasizes routine and refinement. This structure supports long-term improvement by turning practice into a disciplined habit rather than a sporadic effort.
• Strong Foundational Framework: By teaching plumb lines, negative space, and axis control, the course builds a technical base applicable to more advanced subjects. These skills are transferable to figure drawing, architecture, and design, giving students future flexibility.
• Clarity in Instruction: Brent Eviston presents techniques in a clear, step-by-step manner, avoiding artistic jargon that might confuse beginners. His explanations are grounded in practical demonstration, making abstract concepts tangible and easy to replicate.
• Progressive Learning Curve: The course moves logically from basic size comparisons to complex shape analysis, ensuring students build confidence gradually. This scaffolding prevents overwhelm and keeps learners engaged through achievable milestones.
• Focus on Accuracy Over Style: While not expressive, the course prioritizes correctness, which is essential for portfolios and academic art programs. It instills discipline by rewarding precision, a trait highly valued in professional and educational settings.

Honest Limitations

• Requires Consistent Repetition: Mastery demands repeated practice, which may frustrate learners expecting quick results. Without patience, students might underestimate the time needed to internalize measuring techniques.
• Limited Creative Expression: The course emphasizes realism and accuracy over personal style or artistic flair. Those seeking expressive or stylized drawing may find the approach too rigid or restrictive.
• Minimal Digital Integration: Despite being on Udemy, the course relies on traditional pencil-and-paper methods without incorporating digital tools. Learners hoping for tablet or software-based instruction will need supplementary resources.
• Narrow Scope: The content focuses exclusively on measuring and proportion, omitting color, shading, and composition beyond alignment. Students must pursue other courses to round out their skill set.
• Assumes Self-Motivation: There is no built-in feedback system or instructor interaction, placing full responsibility on the learner. Without external accountability, some may struggle to complete all modules.
• Basic Technology Use: The course does not leverage interactive features like quizzes, peer reviews, or animated demonstrations common in modern online learning. This may reduce engagement for tech-savvy users accustomed to dynamic platforms.
• Repetitive Exercises: Some hands-on tasks involve repeating the same measuring drills, which can feel monotonous over time. Without variety, learners may lose motivation if not intrinsically driven.
• Language Restriction: Offered only in English, the course may limit accessibility for non-native speakers despite clear instruction. Visual learning helps, but terminology like 'plumb line' or 'axis control' may require additional clarification.

How to Get the Most Out of It

• Study cadence: Dedicate 30–45 minutes daily across five days per week to complete modules without rushing. This pace aligns with the course's 3.5-week timeline and supports retention through spaced repetition.
• Parallel project: Maintain a personal sketchbook where you apply measuring techniques to real-world subjects like furniture or street scenes. This reinforces classroom learning with authentic observational challenges beyond reference photos.
• Note-taking: Use a ruled notebook to document key insights like angle judgment tips and alignment checks after each lesson. Writing down steps solidifies understanding and creates a personalized reference guide.
• Community: Join the official Udemy discussion board for this course to share drawings and receive peer feedback. Engaging with others helps maintain accountability and exposes you to different approaches to the same exercises.
• Practice: Repeat each hands-on assignment at least twice, once during instruction and once independently after a day’s break. This reinforces motor memory and reveals persistent inaccuracies needing correction.
• Tool Integration: Pair pencil sighting exercises with a small mirror to catch distortions in your drawings. Comparing your work to its reflection highlights proportional errors invisible during creation.
• Progress Tracking: Take weekly photos of your drawings to visually document improvement over time. Reviewing these every Sunday helps identify patterns in accuracy and motivates continued effort.
• Time Management: Schedule drawing sessions at the same time daily to build routine, treating practice like a non-negotiable appointment. Consistency enhances skill acquisition more than sporadic intensive sessions.

Supplementary Resources

• Book: 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' complements this course by expanding on perceptual training and visual analysis. Its exercises enhance the observational mindset required for accurate measuring and proportion.
• Tool: Use Line of Action (free online) to practice quick measuring drills with timed figure sketches. This site reinforces comparative measurement and axis alignment in dynamic contexts beyond still life.
• Follow-up: Enroll in 'The Ultimate Face & Head Drawing Course' to apply measuring skills to facial proportions and structure. This natural progression builds on axis control and symmetry taught in the current course.
• Reference: Keep a printed PDF of the course's alignment checklist for quick access during practice. Having key steps visible reduces reliance on memory and ensures consistent application of techniques.
• App: Try Sketchbook by Autodesk for freehand digital practice while maintaining traditional measuring habits. Its layer feature allows overlaying grids to verify proportion accuracy post-drawing.
• Website: Visit Drawabox.com for additional structured drills in line control and perspective that support this course’s goals. Their free lessons reinforce the discipline of precise drawing through repetition.
• Workbook: Supplement with 'The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook' for hands-on exercises in sighting and negative space. It provides structured practice that mirrors the course’s methodology.
• YouTube Channel: Watch Proko’s free tutorials on measuring techniques to see real-time demonstrations of pencil sighting and plumb lines. His visual walkthroughs reinforce concepts taught by Brent Eviston.

Common Pitfalls

• Pitfall: Rushing through modules without mastering each technique leads to shaky fundamentals. To avoid this, complete all hands-on tasks and repeat any drawing with noticeable distortion before advancing.
• Pitfall: Ignoring negative space results in misaligned shapes and incorrect proportions. Always practice identifying the space around objects, as emphasized in Module 4, to improve overall accuracy.
• Pitfall: Holding the pencil incorrectly during sighting distorts measurements. Ensure your arm is fully extended and your thumb is locked to maintain consistent scale when comparing distances.
• Pitfall: Drawing too small limits precision and makes errors harder to detect. Work at a larger scale—minimum 8x10 inches—to allow detailed corrections and clearer visual feedback.
• Pitfall: Skipping warm-up exercises reduces hand-eye coordination readiness. Begin each session with five minutes of blind contour drawing to activate observational focus before measuring tasks.
• Pitfall: Relying solely on intuition instead of tools undermines progress. Always use the pencil method or plumb line, even for simple comparisons, to build disciplined habits over time.
• Pitfall: Failing to check vertical and horizontal alignments leads to tilted compositions. Use a ruler or straight edge frequently to verify that key elements are properly oriented as taught in Module 2.

Time & Money ROI

• Time: Expect 3 to 4 weeks of consistent effort to complete all modules and absorb core skills. Investing just 3–4 hours per week yields noticeable improvement in observational accuracy and drawing confidence.
• Cost-to-value: Priced affordably on Udemy, the course offers exceptional value for its structured, expert-led content. The depth of technique taught justifies the cost, especially compared to private art instruction.
• Certificate: While not accredited, the certificate validates completion and dedication to foundational training. It strengthens portfolio applications by demonstrating commitment to technical skill development in drawing.
• Alternative: Skipping this course may lead to poor habits requiring later correction, increasing long-term learning time. Self-taught methods often lack the systematic approach this course provides, making it a worthwhile investment.
• Opportunity Cost: Delaying enrollment risks stagnation in drawing ability, especially for beginners. Early mastery of measuring accelerates progress in all future art endeavors, from illustration to animation.
• Long-Term Benefit: Skills learned here form a permanent foundation applicable across mediums and styles. Even years later, accurate proportion and alignment remain essential, making the knowledge timeless.
• Financial Accessibility: Frequent Udemy discounts make this course available for under $20, increasing accessibility. This low barrier to entry allows widespread adoption of professional-grade techniques.
• Reusability: Lifetime access means you can revisit modules whenever facing proportion challenges in future projects. This ongoing utility enhances the course’s long-term value far beyond initial completion.

Editorial Verdict

The Art & Science of Drawing / MEASURING & PROPORTION Course is a meticulously crafted foundation for anyone serious about improving their drawing accuracy. It doesn’t dazzle with flashy techniques or digital gimmicks, but instead delivers what most beginners desperately need: a clear, repeatable system for seeing and drawing correctly. Brent Eviston’s structured approach transforms the often-intimidating task of drawing into a series of logical, learnable steps grounded in visual measurement. The emphasis on daily practice, comparative analysis, and technical precision builds confidence through competence, making it ideal for self-learners and aspiring professionals alike. While it won’t teach you to draw in anime or abstract styles, it provides the bedrock upon which all realistic drawing rests.

For those willing to embrace repetition and disciplined practice, this course offers transformative results. Its strengths far outweigh its limitations, particularly for students targeting careers in fine art, illustration, or design where accuracy is non-negotiable. The lack of expressive freedom is not a flaw but a deliberate focus, ensuring learners master fundamentals before exploring style. When paired with supplementary resources and consistent effort, the skills gained here become permanent tools in an artist’s arsenal. We strongly recommend this course to beginners and intermediates seeking to eliminate guesswork from their drawings and develop a reliable, measurable approach to visual art. It’s not just a course—it’s a long-term investment in artistic integrity.