Copying vs. Constructive Drawing: Two Approaches Every Artist Should Learn

One of my students recently asked me about the difference between the sight-size / comparative approach to drawing and constructive drawing so I wanted to make a post to share my experiences of both.

Sight Size Approach (Drawing what you see)

First of all let me define what I mean when I say the ‘sight size’ approach. From what I’ve researched it’s about positioning your eyes in a way that makes your reference (2d or 3d) the same size as your drawing or painting. You almost make the picture making process like a ‘spot the difference’ exercise. You aim to flatten what you see into 2d shapes and you copy those shapes.

Comparative Approach (Drawing what you see)

Drawing using comparative measuring is a method where you judge proportions and relationships between parts of your subject using a consistent unit of measurement - often one feature, like the width of the head or length of the hand - and then compare all other elements to it.

Unlike sight-size, where the drawing and subject appear the same size and can be directly compared visually, the comparative approach requires scaling - enlarging or reducing what you see while keeping proportions accurate. It demands a stronger sense of relative measurement and spatial judgment, making it a natural next step in difficulty after sight-size, but in my experience flattening what you see also helps with this approach.

These two approaches teach accuracy and discipline - how to measure, compare, and capture proportions truthfully. When you copy, you’re sharpening your eye. You learn to see shapes as they really are, not as you assume them to be. This is an essential skill for any artist, and it’s why I still teach this first when teaching drawing.

Constructive Drawing

The constructive approach on the other hand is to take what you see and by using your own framework and knowledge of things like perspective, light on form, anatomy if it’s a figure, you construct something not exactly as you may see it with your eyes but that is clear on your paper or canvas and reads as a 3 dimensional object. This approach unlocks freedom. Once you understand how to construct, you can draw anything - from memory, imagination, or reference - because you know how it’s built. Where sight-size / comparative drawing sharpens your eye, constructive drawing strengthens your mind’s eye.

In a nutshell, for me sight size and comparative drawing is to ‘draw’ something whereas constructive is to ‘draw from’ something. I first came across this when I was asked in a project to design illustrations for a fantastical world that I could not see with my eyes. I was basically asked to invent things. I realised immediately that I had no idea where to begin. I started having to ask myself questions like ‘so where do I put things in my scene’, ‘how to I draw the character so he looks like he’s above me’, honestly, things I’d never really asked myself when doing portraits using sight size.

Why You Need Both

Observational drawing gives you accuracy; constructive drawing gives you invention. Together, they give you control and creative freedom.

When you combine these approaches, you can design your own compositions, characters, and worlds with confidence - while keeping them believable and grounded in reality.

This balance is at the heart of my teaching, and it’s something I wish I’d learned earlier. It’s the foundation I never received, but wish I had.

Learn Both in My Upcoming Drawing Foundations Course

In my upcoming Drawing Foundations Course, I’ll teach an introduction to both observational and constructive drawing - the two core approaches every artist needs.

We’ll start with exercises to train your eye to see accurately, then move into the fundamentals of building form and structure. It’s the perfect bridge between copying and invention - and the education I wish someone had given me when I started.

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