Improve your faces: a practical guide — Before winter

The fastest way to get better at Improve your Faces is structured repetition with feedback. Build that loop with the steps here.

What you need

Starter materials (nothing fancy)
Reference examples you admire
A notebook for notes

Step by step

Copy a reference you admire exactly, paying attention to decisions rather than results.
Capture or record the attempt so improvement is visible later.
Repeat tomorrow with that single gap as the focus.
Attempt the real thing at small scale — short, finished pieces beat long abandoned ones.
Get one piece of specific feedback: compare against the reference and name one gap.

Tips

Set a timer; scope grows to fill available time.
Keep a 'problems' list while working instead of fixing mid-flow.
The second rep is always faster — plan for it.

Common mistakes

Skipping the verification step because the first attempt looked fine.
Changing multiple variables between attempts, which makes failures unlearnable.
Using the wrong tool 'just this once' and damaging the part.

FAQ

Can I adapt this to my situation?

Yes — treat the steps as the skeleton. Keep the verification steps; customize everything else.

How long does this take?

Most people finish the core steps in one focused session. First-timers should double the estimate and add a break halfway.

What if I get stuck?

Return to the last verified checkpoint and redo the failing step slowly. If it still fails, search for the exact error or symptom rather than the general task.

Related guides

[[how-to-get-started-with-perspective]] [[how-to-get-started-with-a-daily-sketch-habit]] [[how-to-get-started-with-digital-brushes]] [[how-to-get-started-with-value-studies]]

Once the basics feel automatic, push one variable at a time and keep notes. That is how good becomes great.