Term
Sight-sizing
Meaning
Sight-sizing is a way of checking proportions by holding a pencil at a fixed arm's length and comparing sizes and angles in the subject. Close one eye, lock your elbow so that the distance stays the same, and use one part, such as the head, as a unit for the rest. It works for live models, photographs on a screen and still life alike. It catches common errors, such as a head drawn too large or legs drawn too short. See also: Head unit, Foreshortening and the guide "Human Proportions for Artists: Rules of Thumb and Their Limits".