The proportional divider at work

KingstonFineArt

Here' is a YouTube video that show the use of the proportional divider.
I make my own from 8" to 3'.

This is a pretty good video on getting the head proportions.


https://youtu.be/HF2kE6Uc3yU

Suez

I bought a vintage metal Alvin architect/drafting proportional divider. You can find them for sale on line with moveable needle pins on all four points which work very precisely. Circle proportions are marked on one leg and straight line proportions on the other. Cost $30 and came with spare pins. They come in 6” and 8” so good for a step up from smaller references. There are plenty of them for sale. New ones are very expensive, like $150, and I don’t know if they are marked for circles.

tassieguy

Art supply stores sell good quality PD's for much less than $150. I think I paid $25 for mine. What's important is to understand how to use it. Mark has a video that deals with this. I recommend it. 

Suez

Suez said:

I bought a vintage metal Alvin architect/drafting proportional divider. You can find them for sale on line with moveable needle pins on all four points which work very precisely. Circle proportions are marked on one leg and straight line proportions on the other. Cost $30 and came with spare pins. They come in 6” and 8” so good for a step up from smaller references. There are plenty of them for sale. New ones are very expensive, like $150, and I don’t know if they are marked for circles.

* Correction, I should have said “New ones of comparable quality and are $150 in art stores today.

CBG

tassieguy said:

Art supply stores sell good quality PD's for much less than $150. I think I paid $25 for mine. What's important is to understand how to use it. Mark has a video that deals with this. I recommend it. 

Here is the video for anyone who wants to see it:

This happens to be the proportional divider from GenevaFineArt (a company owned by the owner of this website Mark Carder) 

Enjoy!

KingstonFineArt

Very interesting here’s a good painter doing really practical things with his painting and proportional dividers. No one has commented on his video. 

CBG

KingstonFineArt said:

Very interesting here’s a good painter doing really practical things with his painting and proportional dividers. No one has commented on his video. 

What are you talking about?  Whose video has no comments?

KingstonFineArt

KingstonFineArt said:

Here' is a YouTube video that show the use of the proportional divider.
I make my own from 8" to 3'.

This is a pretty good video on getting the head proportions.


https://youtu.be/HF2kE6Uc3yU

Suez

This video shows how to get head proportions from the marked outer perimeter of the painting, etc., before marking out the notan. I like how he teaches while having his student painting along at the same time to reinforce the lesson. I like how the image goes three dimensional from the get go and his explanations of the hows and whys in general.

 The use of a proportional divider could be used for the inner landmarks of the face and to check other proportions, of course, but his system seems more to the point, quicker, and the whole painting resolves better from the outside in, imo.

https://youtu.be/hnRtFdAHqD8

The video using the proportional divider is good but I think it misses by not marking the perimeter of the painting to use the space around the figure and the finer points of the composition layout. Seems like it would be easier, at first glance, for beginners but a slower way to learn overall.

heartofengland

Thanks @KingstonFineArt
I've watched videos from this artist before. I hadn't seen this one. I like his idea of straight lines being easier than curves. Also the quick clip of horizontal lines from the photo.

Mark's videos introduced the divider to me. I've made one myself, dead easy, and use it a lot.  I like Mark's slow & detailed approach to tutorials. It's all about doing it in real life, in real time with him.

I'm saving up to buy Mark's portrait video ready for my assault on the human face.

Keep on posting your technical stuff Kingston. I'm not at a level to need or understand most of it but it's a resource I appreciate being there for the future 

Forgiveness

I made my own following Mark's instructions, 14" white maple hardwood.
 I don't have a 3' one tho, this would be great for drawing and painting on large surfaces.
 Good video, one of the very best.