Head Drawing Practice Reel: 10 Quick Studies

Alright, time to put everything you've learned into actual practice.

This isn't about making pretty drawings. This is about repetition and building muscle memory for structure.

Important: I highly recommend watching the basic head drawing construction series before doing this assignment. First lesson starts with skull profile construction and proportions.

What You're Doing

10 head drawings. Timed poses. That's it.

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Watch video: gather your drawing supplies and get ready to go!

What to Focus On

Gesture first: Top of skull, mask of the face - get those directional lines down.

Proportion: Is the head the right shape? Neck connecting correctly?

Angle: Is it tilted? Turning? Show it with your structure.

Minimal details: You can hint at a hairline or throw in a couple feature indicators if it helps show what the head is doing, but don't get lost in details.

This is structure practice, not rendering practice.

How It Works

Each pose is timed. You'll hear a notification when there are 10 seconds left. That's your warning to wrap up and get ready for the next one.

Have your materials ready before you start. Pencils, paper, eraser - whatever you're using. Don't waste time scrambling for supplies mid-session.

If You Need More Time

Pause it.

Seriously. If you're not keeping up, pause between poses. Give yourself an extra 30 seconds. This is practice, not a test.

The goal is learning, not stressing.

What Success Looks Like

By the end of 10 drawings, you should see:

• Faster decision-making on structure
• More confident lines
• Better understanding of how angles affect proportions
• Less hesitation when starting a new pose

You're not trying to make 10 masterpieces. You're trying to make 10 attempts where you apply the principles.

Before You Start

Quick checklist:

• Paper ready
• Pencils sharpened (or mechanical pencil loaded)
• Eraser within reach
• Space cleared
• Distractions minimized

Don't half-commit to this. Give it your full attention for the session.

After You're Done

Look at all 10 together. Don't judge them individually - look at the set.

Ask yourself:

• Did I improve from #1 to #10?
• Which angles gave me the most trouble?
• Where did I rush and lose structure?
• Which ones feel the most solid?

That's your roadmap for what to practice next.

Continue Learning

• Previous: Master's Head Analysis - Basic Construction
• Next: Robert's Take on Assignment Reel
• Course Hub: Complete Head Drawing Course

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