Is Foundation Art Course - Head Construction Method: Block-In Stage worth it if you’re shopping in Drawing & Painting?
If you’ve ever stared at a blank page, knowing you need to draw a face but having no idea where the first line should go, you’re stuck in the “block-in” gap. Most art advice tells you to “just start drawing,” but that rarely helps when you’re trying to construct a three-dimensional head from two-dimensional shapes. You need a logical workflow that explains why a shape goes in a specific spot before the next one appears. (Foundation Art Course -)
Foundation Art Course - Head Construction Method: Block-In Stage by Ron Lemen tackles exactly that bottleneck. It’s not a generic “how to draw” video; it’s a technical breakdown of the “shapes to forms” approach. For $25, you get a structured path from empty canvas to a blocked-in portrait, with the logic laid out so you can replicate the process on your own subjects. If you’re tired of guessing the order of operations, this course offers the map.
Quick answer
| Best for | Artists who understand basic drawing but struggle with the logical order of constructing a head from shapes. |
| Skip if | You are a complete beginner who doesn’t yet understand basic form, or if you only want finished artwork without learning the process. |
| Price | $25 |
| Format | 8 video lessons (81 mins) + 4 PSD files |
| One-line take | A precise, step-by-step technical guide to the “block-in” stage of portrait construction, covering pen, charcoal, and digital. |
What you’re actually buying
You aren’t just buying a video; you are buying a specific method for organizing your visual information. The course focuses entirely on the “block-in stage,” which is the critical phase where you determine the placement of major planes and volumes before adding detail. Ron Lemen breaks this down into eight short, punchy videos (ranging from 6 to 11 minutes) that total just over 81 minutes. This brevity is a feature, not a bug: it keeps the technical information dense and to the point, avoiding the fluff that often dilutes online tutorials. (Foundation Art Course -)
The real value here is the multi-medium demonstration. You get to see the same construction logic applied across three distinct workflows: ballpoint pen, charcoal pencil, and digital (Photoshop). This is crucial because the “construction method” isn’t just about the tool; it’s about the observation. By watching how Lemen organizes the shapes in pen, then charcoal, then on a digital canvas, you see that the underlying geometry remains constant regardless of the medium. (Foundation Art Course -)
Included with the videos are four PSD files. These aren’t just the final images; they include the digital demonstrations and the explainer notes from the first two videos. This allows you to open the files in Photoshop, isolate the layers, and see exactly how the “shapes to forms” approach is built up digitally. It’s a rare inclusion for a $25 course to provide editable source files that let you reverse-engineer the instructor’s decision-making process. (Foundation Art Course -)
Why it’s on our radar
This course stands out because it refuses to skip the “why.” Many drawing tutorials show you what to draw, but Lemen explicitly focuses on the logical workflow: how one shape explains the next, and why the order matters. For an artist stuck in the middle of a drawing, knowing the reason for the next step is often more valuable than seeing the step itself. (Foundation Art Course -)
The specificity of the “Head Construction Method” also makes this a strong pick for the Drawing & Painting niche. It doesn’t try to be a whole portfolio course; it solves one specific, high-friction problem: getting the head blocked in correctly. The inclusion of both traditional (pen/charcoal) and digital (PSD) files makes it versatile for mixed-media artists who need to translate their traditional observation skills into a digital workflow. (Foundation Art Course -)
What actually matters
Before you buy, consider your current skill level and your preferred medium. This is a technical course on construction, not a beginner’s “how to hold a pencil” guide. You should already be comfortable with basic drawing tools. If you are new to digital art, the PSD files will be particularly useful for understanding layer organization and how digital tools mimic traditional workflows. (Foundation Art Course -)
Check your software compatibility. The digital demonstrations are in Photoshop. If you use Procreate or Clip Studio Paint, you can still follow the video logic, but you won’t be able to open the provided PSD files directly. However, the visual logic in the videos is medium-agnostic, so the core value remains intact. (Foundation Art Course -)
Finally, look at the time commitment. With 81 minutes of content, you can likely work through the entire course in a single weekend. This makes it a low-risk, high-reward investment for someone who wants a quick, structured refresher on head construction. (Foundation Art Course -)
Mid-check
If you’re ready to stop guessing the order of your shapes and start building heads with logic, this is a focused, efficient resource. (Foundation Art Course -)
FAQ
Is this course suitable for complete beginners? It is best for artists who have some foundational knowledge but struggle with the structure of a drawing. If you don’t yet understand what a “form” or “plane” is, you might find the technical language dense. It’s a step up from absolute basics. (Foundation Art Course -)
Do I need to own Photoshop to get value from this? No. While the digital demonstrations use Photoshop and include PSD files, the core construction method is demonstrated in ballpoint pen and charcoal as well. You can learn the “shapes to forms” logic from the traditional video demos and apply it to any medium. (Foundation Art Course -)
How long is the total video content? The course includes 8 videos totaling 81 minutes. Each video is short (6 to 11:30 minutes), designed to be watched in quick sessions without losing focus. (Foundation Art Course -)
What is the “block-in stage”? The block-in stage is the initial phase of a drawing where you establish the major volumes, planes, and proportions of the subject. It’s the skeleton of the drawing before any shading, texture, or fine detail is added. This course focuses exclusively on mastering this stage. (Foundation Art Course -)
Bottom line
If you’re frustrated by the “blank page” problem when drawing heads, Foundation Art Course - Head Construction Method: Block-In Stage offers a clear, logical solution. It’s not a magic trick; it’s a method. For $25, you get a precise, 81-minute breakdown of how to construct a head from shapes, with the flexibility to practice in pen, charcoal, or digital. It’s a sharp, no-nonsense tool for artists who want to build their drawings with intention rather than guesswork.