How Pros REALLY Use the Loomis Method
642Check out my Free Line and Color Quick Start Guide: https://www.thedrawingcodex.com/yourfreequickstartguide
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When you're applying the Loomis method to an actual character, starting with the center line and brow line works better than starting with the sphere. This video shows the iterative approach used in real production work.
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This video demonstrates how to use construction methods the way they're actually used in comics, animation, and concept art - as an iterative tool that enhances your sketches, not replaces them. You start with a rough sketch focusing on emotion and character, then use the Loomis method to solve structural problems and ensure consistency.
The reason this matters? When you're drawing the same character hundreds or thousands of times from different angles, you need a system that preserves personality while maintaining structure.
Using Ken Masters from Street Fighter, you'll see the actual workflow: rough emotional sketch first, then finding the center line and brow line, then adding the sphere if needed for volume checks. This two-phase approach gives you freedom in the initial sketch because you know you can true it up with construction.
The video covers drawing Ken from multiple challenging angles - front view, looking down, looking up, three-quarter - showing how the center line and brow line maintain consistency.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:59 Welcome
00:01:33 How To Use The Loomis Method In The Real World
00:24:27 Loomis Method Theory and Book
00:31:23 Using The Loomis Method in Production
00:32:37 Lets Draw Ken! (Starting With Rough Sketches)
00:43:22 Side View
00:48:17 Front View
00:53:16 Above 3/4 View
01:02:20 Looking Up 3/4 View
01:11:24 Out!
TOOLS FOR TODAY:
Photoshop + Huion Kamvas 19 Pro 4k
BOOKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Drawing the Head and Hands by Andrew Loomis
Naoki Urasawa's Manben (documentary series)
PEOPLE MENTIONED:
Andrew Loomis
Naoki Urasawa
Happy Drawing!
Where To Find More About Tim Mcburnie:
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