2. Draw whole shape first

Nishant Jain

’s Tiny People workshop changed my whole brain last year. He gave the simplest tip I’d ever heard. Maybe that’s why it works so well!

Drawing the shape quickly:

• ensures your figure fits on your page properly and you don’t decapitate or cut off your subject’s appendages!

• Helps you see proportions and scale of what’s in front of you.

• Prevents us from getting lost in the details.

This, along with setting parameters, solves a lot of drawing problems that are usually caused by overthinking.

Things to try

• Draw them in a grid or individual boxes.

• Take a few seconds to observe angles and negative space before starting the timer.

• For shorter times, draw smaller.

Your references are at the bottom of this page! Try getting their shape down in under one minute.