About
Sight-Size

Helping You Draw With Confidence

You can see.
I’ll help you draw with confidence.

Hi there! I’m Darren.

You’re here because you want to know how to draw what you see. Of course you can see. But you don’t really know how to see. To best learn how to see we use Sight-Size.

If you’ve come from the site’s home page you already know a bit about Sight-Size. On this page we’ll begin with a recap and then explain further.

Sight-Size assures accurate sight.
And when you can see accurately, you too can draw with confidence.

What Is Sight-Size?

Sight-Size is simply an arrangement of the artist, subject, and artwork that allows the artist to see their subject and artwork one-to-one.

There Are 3 Elements To Sight-Size

SUBJECT ARTWORK

Element 1

SIDE-BY-SIDE ARRANGEMENT

Element 2

CONSISTENT VANTAGE POINT
SUBJECT ARTWORK

Element 3

DRAWING WHAT YOU SEE

Shown above is what is known as a ‘Bargue Plate’. It appears as if the drawing is on the left and the source on the right. Drawing from photographs or other drawings is called copying from the flat.  

ELEMENT 1

A Side-By-Side Arrangement

Element #1 is a side-by-side arrangement between your subject and artwork. It is only this arrangement that assures a visual one-to-one comparison.

That’s true whether your subject is flat (like a photograph), or round (like nature). In both cases you need the subject and artwork visually next to each other.

Remember: To make accurate comparisons your subject and artwork must be visually side-by-side.

Shown above is the typical Sight-Size arrangement for a left-handed artist. Right-handers would have the source (a cast in this image) on the left side of their drawing. The vantage point (where I’m standing when viewing the arrangement) was 8 feet back.

ELEMENT 2

A Consistent Vantage Point

Element #2 is maintaining a consistent vantage point. When your subject and artwork are visually side-by-side in Sight-Size, from the proper vantage point you can see both in one glance and in a one-to-one relationship.

When in Sight-Size you’ll need to stand aways back from the arrangement to make all comparisons. Even though you draw at the easel, you always view from the vantage point.

Remember: Never look at your subject when actually working on the drawing. Always stand back to compare.*

*When copying from the flat (as shown in the Bargue Plate image for Element #1) your vantage point is predetermined for you and is often at arm’s length.

ELEMENT 3

Drawing What You See

Element #3 is drawing what you see. A consistent comparison between your subject and artwork through the one-to-one relationship of Sight-Size will help you achieve an accurate likeness.

Due to Elements 1 and 2, you can represent the subject in the same way your eye sees it. Sight-Size assures that you accurately perceive what’s visually in front of you and then draw, paint, or sculpt that observation.

Remember: Before you subjectively deviate from nature you must first be able to accurately represent it. Sight-Size helps you do that.

Why Is Learning To Draw Using Sight-Size So Effective?

This question is best answered by briefly explaining one of the alternatives which is variously called Comparative Measuring or Proportional Drawing. Regardless of the chosen term, the process is centered on scaling your artwork to your source.

In other words, when Comparative Measuring you are drawing what you see either larger or smaller than you actually see it.

Sight-Size, on the other hand, is drawing what you see in the size you see it - hence the term Sight-Size. Most often Sight-Size is also life size. But it does not have to be. You can learn more about that in the article Equal To, Larger Than, Smaller Than.

What Students Say:

Basically you are saving me time, money, stress and gives me a lot of “inside knowledge” that for the most part, only the teachers have.

- R. Way

If you have searched high and low for a way to learn Sight-Size, your search is over. Darren R. Rousar is a master teacher and made the whole process so simple and easy that we were amazed we had ever struggled. 

- D. Hendrickson

Thanks for the exercises. I have discovered that I can now rely on my eye as well as measurement, leading to a more accurate overall rendition.

- J. Bagwell

Want To Learn More?

There are more than 100 articles on the Sight-Size site. The three articles linked below will give you the basic information. Plus, there’s an additional bonus link which leads to the store where you can purchase books and videos for more in-depth instruction.

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How Can I Learn More About Sight-Size?

There are many articles on the site which explore the various aspects of the Sight-Size approach.
Here’s one that more fully explains what it is.
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What Is The History Of Sight-Size?

Although this may be the first time you’ve heard about Sight-Size, it’s nothing new. Take a look at this article here.
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Who Runs This Website?

Sight-Size did not begin with me although I run this site. My name is Darren R. Rousar. You can learn a bit about me here.
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How Can I Begin?

Most people begin with either the book Cast Drawing in Sight-Size or the รก la carte videos that follow the book’s lessons. All may be purchased at this page here.

Sight-Size helps you confidently draw whatever you see because it assures accurate sight.