4.3.25
2 minutes gesture trying out different approaches
After the first few I just drew the line of action and tried a gestural silhouette
Some portraits done on around 1 minute each, really just trying to get proportions not worried about any details
Trying to get a 2 value painterly look
5/3/25
gesture 2 minutes drew line of action, circles for head pelvis ribcage, then focused on silhouette
Portraits took a different approach I drew the silhouette then added guidelines on top
I feel the silhouette helps me with proportions. So the construction was done after the silhouette. 
Very random and rushed perpsective practice, Trying to find the right reference.looking for that more 1st person look
6.3.25
2 minutes gestures
About 10 minutes per portrait Really cant get the features to look accurate
7.3.25
Should I try to stop drawing symbols or will it go away naturally
do I need to slow down and get the details right?
I'm not much further in my art journey than you but I do think they go away eventually, with the right mindset of trying to draw what you see rather than what you think you're seeing. To get there however require a lot of intentional observation exercises. I can definitely see improvement in your last 3 posts, so you're on the right track.
Only suggestion I can give right now is to study the individual facial features, I think that'll level up your overall construction. The nose especially in some of these is a bit flat looking, so I'd start there. Keep it up! 
@vstriferv Thanks, I 'll keep in mind to really observe and focus on the features
10.3.25
11.3.25
Your practice is definitely helping you improve. So keep at it!
Are you using your shoulder and elbow when you are making your strokes? it looks like you might mostly be drawing from the wrist, which results in shorter and sketchier strokes. If you are, you should try to use your whole arm. It has made a world of difference in my own efforts.
@JimSt I really need to work on my line quality, thanks for the reminder
12.3.25
I have realised with my gesture drawing that sticking to one time makes me draw mindlessly after a while , I need to vary the timer so I actually pay attention. 
13.2.25
Really struggling to get past drawing symbols, Maybe taking more time would help or I need to work on my observation skills
14.3.25
Hey nice facial feature studies! I'm not sure if you're going too fast or not, but one thing to get out drawing symbols is to understand the subject you're drawing. A quick way for that to translate to actual practice is to first trace the subject, for example the eye. Then draw it again, next to your traced over image. Then compare the two. That way you get rid of all surrounding information, like color and light and can just focus on the lines.
And just some general feedback; I notice that you only focus on the inner part of the eyes, not drawing the eyelids or the shelf of the eyebrow. I think you'll get a more accurate representation if you try to capture the whole eye region in your studies, and It'll be easier to then "attach" them to your faces.
@vstriferv I'll try tracing it and redrawing seems like a good idea to practice
17.3.25
My lines ended up really rough in the portraits. I am not sure if tracing helped, I think it made a bit of a difference
