How to Draw Heads!: is this $20 stack worth it for Drawing & Painting?
The Box Method for Heads: a one-hour reset for artists stuck in the “why does this look wrong?” loop
You have probably tried the golden ratio, the Loomis construction, the “just draw more” advice, and maybe a $500 course that left you with 40 hours of video and zero confidence. The head is the most complex form in figurative art, and most tutorials either drown you in anatomy jargon or hand you a 20-step formula that breaks the moment you tilt the skull. How to Draw Heads! from Reuben Lara takes a different angle: it strips the problem down to a single box scaffold, then shows you how that one shape holds up across realistic, stylized, and everything in between.
The pitch is simple. Spend one hour learning a few easy-to-remember principles, and the way you approach heads changes. This isn’t a “masterclass” with 30 modules and a lifetime access badge. It is a focused workshop that pairs a clear method with a free 3D reference tool you can actually use in your daily workflow. If you are a storyboard artist, concept designer, or comic creator who feels like you are guessing at every new face, this $20 investment might be the shortcut you have been looking for. (How to Draw Heads!)
Quick answer
| Best for | Artists who want a simplified, repeatable structure for drawing heads across any style (realistic to stylized). |
| Skip if | You are looking for a deep-dive anatomy course, need a specific software plugin, or prefer learning solely through tracing without conceptual frameworks. |
| Price | $20 |
| Format | 1-hour video workshop + exercises + free 3D Skull-In-A-Box model file |
| One-line take | A practical, low-friction method that turns the “scary” head into a manageable box, backed by a free 3D tool for reference. |
What you’re actually buying
At $20, you are not just buying a video; you are buying a complete workflow for tackling the human head. The core of How to Draw Heads! is the “box method,” a scaffold that simplifies the placement of the main components of the face. What makes this pack feel more substantial than a standard tutorial is the inclusion of the Skull-In-A-Box tool. You get a free 3D model file (.FBX) that you can import into Clip Studio Paint, Blender, or other 3D apps. This means you aren’t just watching someone else draw; you can spin a 3D head in your own software to understand how the box structure holds up from different angles.
The workshop itself is dense with practical application. You get a demo that explicitly addresses why tracing is a valid part of the learning process, which is a refreshing take for artists who feel guilty about it. Reuben shows you how the box method maps to real photos of people, bridging the gap between abstract geometry and actual faces. You also get easy, practical exercises you can try immediately after watching. For Clip Studio Paint users specifically, the .FBX file comes with instructions on how to transform it within your document, making it a ready-to-use reference asset rather than just a file sitting in a folder.
The presentation style is a big part of the value here. One buyer noted, “I love how organically the presentation is delivered. Very clean and easy to follow. Great Job!!” Gumroad reviews highlight that the method feels accessible rather than academic. Another buyer mentioned purchasing it for a 14-year-old great-niece, noting that the approach is engaging enough for younger artists who are just starting to grapple with character design. This suggests the material is pitched at a level that doesn’t require a decade of experience to understand, making it a strong entry point for beginners while still offering structural clarity for intermediate artists.
Why it’s on our radar
Most drawing resources fall into two traps: they are either too technical (requiring you to memorize every bone and muscle) or too vague (“just practice”). How to Draw Heads! sits in the sweet spot of conceptual simplicity. The “box method” is a specific, teachable heuristic that reduces the cognitive load of drawing a head. It doesn’t ask you to become an anatomist; it asks you to understand a few key planes.
The inclusion of the 3D model is what sets this apart from a standard $20 video. By providing a digital asset that works in your actual creative tools, Reuben Lara turns the lesson into a permanent part of your toolkit. It is a rare offer that combines a teaching moment with a functional utility. For storyboarding and character design, where speed and consistency matter more than hyper-realism, this kind of structured, repeatable method is incredibly valuable. (How to Draw Heads!)
What actually matters
Before you buy, consider how you currently learn. If you are someone who gets stuck in a loop of “erase, redraw, erase,” the box method offers a concrete alternative to that frustration. The workshop is only one hour long, which is a good thing—it respects your time and forces the material to be concise. (How to Draw Heads!)
Check if your software supports .FBX imports. The free Skull-In-A-Box model is a huge bonus, but it is only useful if you can actually use it in your pipeline. If you work exclusively in a 2D environment that doesn’t support 3D reference imports, you will still get the video and the method, but you will miss out on that interactive component. (How to Draw Heads!)
Also, look at the “skill level: Beginner to Advanced” claim. In practice, this method is most beneficial for those who are struggling with the structure of the head rather than the details. If you are already confident in your proportions and just want to refine shading or skin texture, this workshop might not be the right next step. But if you are stuck on the “why does this head look lopsided” problem, this is a targeted fix. (How to Draw Heads!)
Mid-check
If the idea of simplifying your head drawings with a single geometric scaffold resonates, the pricing is straightforward. You get the full workshop, the exercises, and the 3D tool for a flat rate. (How to Draw Heads!)
FAQ
Is this course suitable for complete beginners? Yes. The method is designed to be easy to remember and apply. The “box” concept is a foundational skill that helps beginners avoid the common pitfall of trying to draw every feature in isolation. The organic presentation style makes it approachable even if you have never drawn a face before. (How to Draw Heads!)
Do I need specific software to use the 3D model? The .FBX file is compatible with Clip Studio Paint, Blender, and other 3D apps. If you use a different 2D program that doesn’t support 3D reference, you can still use the video and the method, but you won’t be able to import the model directly. (How to Draw Heads!)
How long is the actual content? The core workshop is one hour. This is a focused session, not a sprawling multi-day course. You can watch it in one sitting and start applying the exercises immediately. (How to Draw Heads!)
Bottom line
How to Draw Heads! is a smart, efficient tool for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the complexity of the human head. By combining a simple geometric method with a free 3D reference asset, it offers a practical path to confidence that doesn’t require a massive time investment. If you have been stuck in the “erase and redraw” loop, this $20 workshop is a low-risk way to break that cycle.