How to Make a Line Drawing from a 2D Reference to Scale

If you're just starting out at drawing, the best way I've found is by working from a 2D reference that’s the same size as your drawing paper. But how do you transfer the proportions correctly without tracing? In this post, I’ll walk you through a simple step-by-step method to ensure accuracy in your drawings focusing on line.

If you prefer a video guide, you can watch my YouTube tutorial on this topic here:

Why Work from a 2D Reference?

Historically, beginning with working from 2D references and slowly progressing to drawing and painting 3D subjects has been pretty standard practice since the early Renaissance according to my research. To deal only with 2 dimensions first, before thinking about 3 dimensions can save a lot of potentially overwhelmed students. So why start with making both your 2d reference and your drawing paper the same size? When your reference and drawing paper are the same size, it means you can check your measurements and allows you to compare shapes more accurately than if you have to blow them up while using larger paper than your reference. This is so important when learning something, in my mind - the ability to check your own practice without a teacher. This is especially useful for:

✔️ Portrait drawing

✔️ Figure drawing

✔️ Still life sketches

The idea is to train your eye to estimate distances and angles better and better by trying to draw them first and then checking with a ruler or pencil or set-square. Once you can do this efficiently, you can move onto enlarging your reference if your paper is larger, or even making your drawing smaller than a large reference, which can be a bit more challenging.

Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing from a 2D Reference

1) Sketch in the construction lines

Once you've positioned your reference either to the right or left side of your drawing paper - I find it easier to have my reference to the right because I'm right handed, left handed people may prefer the reverse - then start by sketching in on your paper the extremities of your subject - the top, bottom, left and right most part from the reference.

Then map out the contour of the object you're drawing by starting with a point where there is a clear angle change in your reference. Look at that point on your reference and try to guess how far from the top, bottom, left and right of the reference paper it is, and mark that same point on your drawing paper. Now, here comes the crucial part - check your point. Using either the side of your pencil or a ruler or set square, check to see how you did.

From one point, you I would personally recommend finding the next point by looking at your reference and observing the angle the line makes between these two points. Attempt to recreate that angle by drawing on your paper. Then check to see how you did by measuring this second point (the second of the two points that make up the line you just tried to recreate on your drawing). How did you do?

Continue in the manner around the drawing and then sketching the lines inside the object you're copying until you've drawn all the lines.

2) Lockdown the lines

Once you're happy with the lines you've sketched out lightly - the 'construction lines', then proceed to draw a little more heavily over them

3) Clean up the lines

Finally, with a kneaded eraser, rub out the construction lines that will leave you with a clean copy of the line reference you've just copied.

Of course this is only focusing on lines. There are more aspects to drawing and painting to make a 2D surface like a piece of paper or a canvas appear to look 3 dimensional.

Stay tuned for tutorials focusing on tonal values and colour.

Tip: If something still looks off, take a short break and come back with fresh eyes.

Downloadable Resources

Feel free to draw along with me by downloading the same image I used below. Also included are the suggested 'construction lines'.

Final Thoughts

In order for this exercise not to become and exercise in 'how to use a ruler', what's important is that you try first to draw a point or a line first and then you check to see how you did. It's the 'estimate - check, estimate - check' loop that should make your brain more skillful at guessing distances and angles.

Want to learn drawing step by step? I’m working on structured courses to help you improve your skills—stay tuned for updates!

Have any questions or struggles with drawing? Let me know in the comments!

How to Make a Line Drawing from a 2D Reference to Scale – A Step-by-Step Guide