Do real artists line up the objects to be painted by putting up the thumb of their outstretched arm, and if so, why?

star_gazer

Remember that the basic unit in figure drawing is the model's head, from top to chin. Holding your pencil in a fist with the thumb upwards, and arm stretched out fully, close your non-master eye and align the top of your pencil with the top of the model's head, and slide your thumb down the pencil until it aligns with the model's chin. There you have your basic unit of measurement on the pencil. Repeat this step whenever necessary. http://drawsketch.about.com/cs/figuredrawing/a/fig_proportion_2.htm Sep 03 10, 10:29 PM