Scaling is the art of increasing or reducing the forms and dimensions of a given subject while maintaining its correct proportions. 

 

Scaling means reducing something to a smaller scale while maintaining the differences in size of the various components of the drawing.  If for example you are drawing a vase and an apple, and the vase is two times the height of the apple, you must maintain the same proportions in the drawing. 

 

If someone has a very large head, it is said to be out of proportion both in relation to the dimensions of his body and to those of a normal head.  If you examine a classical Greek statue, you will see that the dimensions of the head, bust, arms, legs and other parts of the body all correspond to certain ideal proportions. 

 

The problems begin when you try to reduce your subject to the exact measurement of your paper and at the same time keep everything in proportion. 

 

Several different devices have been invented over the years in order to overcome the problem of transferring dimensions and proportions, but it is better to learn how to scale  by eye.

 

When you are drawing from nature, the first question you should ask how much of the scene should appear in the drawing.  Once you've determined this, then you must choose reference points so you will know the four dimensions of the drawing.  It is nearly always possible to choose some detail that will serve as a good reference point. 

 

Once you have established the edges of your drawing, start measuring them with your pencil, dividing the subject into equal parts along the horizontal line.  Remember to keep your arm completely extended and your body completely still.  Once you've established the reference points, you can continue the process of calculating the proportions and transferring them to your paper.  Use the pencil as a measure and compare measurements with other features of the subject.  Essentially you use the pencil as a measure in order to relate, divide, double and transfer dimensions.

 

Boxing up

You can enclose almost anything in square or rectangular forms called boxes. In addition, every object form or subject can be reboxed up which means that its component parts are enclosed in smaller boxes.  Boxing up doesn't mean making a box big enough to cover the entire subject.  On the contrary, the artist must use a box that is small enough to contain only the most important basic forms or lines. 

 

The calculation of dimensions is a simple matter once you have selected the outer box and have check the measurements with your pencil.  Each of these exercises begins with choosing one measurement and building all the others in relation to the first. You can do this by various the size and dimensions of the boxes or reboxes until you have enough to successfully fit all the components together in proportion to all the other components.