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CYCLE 1 — REFINEMENT PHASE
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[1] LONG STUDIES (PRIMARY)
Target: 25–40
Time per unit: 6–15 hrs
Total time: 150–600 hrs

Process:
- 20–30 min block-in (proportions, angles, big shapes)
- Then full rendering

Focus:
- Mostly cast busts (primary)
- Some drapery
- Occasional figure
- Edge control (hard / firm / soft / lost)
- Subtle form transitions

Notes:
- Block-in = accuracy pass, not perfection
- Avoid heavy reliance on liquify for structure
- Goal is fully resolved form, not just “reads well”

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[2] MICRO STUDIES (TARGETED)
Target: 80–120
Time per unit: 0.5–1.5 hrs
Total time: 40–180 hrs

Focus:
- Hair (priority)
- Drapery folds
- Hands / feet
- Facial planes
- Targeted anatomy (only where confusion exists)

Method:
- Isolate area → render → repeat

Purpose:
- Reduce struggle time in long studies
- Build clarity in specific problem areas

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[3] INK DRAWINGS (EXECUTION)
Target: 60–100
Time per unit: 10–45 min (0.25–0.75 hrs)
Total time: 15–75 hrs

Medium:
- Traditional ink only (pen / dip / fountain)

Focus:
- Figures (majority)
- Clothing + folds
- Clear silhouettes

Rules:
- No heavy underdrawing
- No restarting
- Not doodles, not long polished pieces

Definition:
- One-pass, intentional, time-bounded drawings

Purpose:
- First-pass accuracy
- Commitment and confidence

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[4] QUICK STUDIES (FLOW)
Target: 40–80
Time per unit: 20–60 min (0.5–1 hr)
Total time: 20–80 hrs

Primary focus:
- Figures (default subject)
- Gesture, clothed figures, stylized characters

Secondary (flexible):
- Stylized / personal work
- Composition sketches (simple scenes, figure + environment)
- Occasional real-world observation
- Optional loose color sketches

Distribution (approximate):
- 50–70% figures
- 20–30% stylized / personal
- 10–20% compositions / other

Rules:
- Keep subject flexible — choose what you feel like drawing
- Form-first, lightly rendered
- Must be a complete attempt (not random doodling)
- Do NOT over-refine or turn into long studies
- Most stay quick (70-80%); only upgrade strong ones, and cleanly restart

Purpose:
- Maintain speed, intuition, and flow
- Integrate skills naturally without pressure

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[5] COLOR STUDIES (CONTROLLED INTRO)
Target: 15–30
Time per unit: 1–4 hrs
Total time: 15–120 hrs

Focus:
- Simple forms first
- Limited palette
- Material studies (later)

Rules:
- Value structure must remain solid
- Do not mix complex form + complex color early

Purpose:
- Integrate color without breaking form understanding

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[6] ANATOMY (INTEGRATED — NOT SEPARATE)
(No fixed quota — included within micro + quick studies)

Focus:
- Only study anatomy when needed
- Use to clarify form, not memorize

Placement:
- Micro studies = targeted anatomy work
- Quick studies = applied anatomy
- Long studies = implicit anatomy understanding

Purpose:
- Improve form clarity and edge decisions

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TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME (FULL CYCLE):
Minimum: ~240 hours
Maximum: ~1055 hours
Realistic range: ~300–600 hours

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PROGRESS TRACKER:
Long Studies: 2/30
Micro Studies: 3/100
Ink Drawings: 0/80
Quick Studies: 2/60
Color Studies: 0/20


Posted: 2026-03-29