Start by describing what you see without naming the solution. Then test the biggest structural difference before spending time on detail.
A four-pass diagnostic
- Silhouette: does the outer shape communicate the subject and pose?
- Structure: do the major forms relate in size and direction?
- Value: are the main light and dark groups readable?
- Detail: which marks add information after the first three passes work?
Try the mirror-and-annotation exercise
View the drawing at a smaller size, circle the first area that stops reading, and write one correction beside it. Repeat the drawing with only that correction in mind.
Common failure modes
Zooming into detail too early, fixing the most noticeable mark instead of the most important relationship, and changing several structural variables together are common traps.
When another method is better
Ask another person for help when the same issue remains invisible after several reviews or when the drawing depends on intention that is not visible on the page.