While that one guy with the tall head was intentionally silly, I think I’m struggling most with proportions. I’m using a reference image for most of these, but none of the end results look much like the people in the photos. I’m also not using a grid as I’m doing this all with pen. I know I’ll eventually get it with practice, but is there anything specific I could try?
This is the best advice I ever got when it comes to realistic drawing. And it is hard! Seeing is different than knowing. And a two dimensional page is different than the 3D space that we live in. Drawing is like a translation between brain, eyes, and the paper.
If you draw what you know, you end up with some weird shit, like those medieval cat drawings. It may be recognizable as a cat, but doesn’t look like you’re seeing a cat.