How to Draw - No Talent Method 

self deprecating humor can be a sign of being a loser, watch out!

@@lean4real_11 Talent is bullshirt. No one is naturally excellent at anything. So I do not see saying I am "talentless" as an actual knock down. However it was pretty shirtty for you to respond to my nothing burger joke by calling me a loser

@@lean4real_11responding like this to a joke is a definite sign of being a loser. Work on that.

I have his portrait course, and you are exactly correct. There are more points and angle lines, but the concept and execution is the same. Eyes, mouth, hairline, ears, neck, nose, etc. all have their repective points and angles drawn in using the two "golden lines" as references.

Prismacolor type pencil

It seems the horizontal one is approximately the horizon line, and the vertical may be 1/3rd of the canvas. At the very least, they need only be in the same place on both pictures in order to accurately measure the points of interest onto the canvas. In this example, near the focal subject will make this a bit easier.

Just a line to guide all measurements

They are arbitrary, the important part is that they are consistent in regards to the aspect ratio; that is, the same on the print to the painting (this is not meant to be from life but from a photo.) It's like making an equator and meridian line from which to measure the other points.

You don't even need golden lines. You might as well take one horizontal edge and one vertical edge of the canvas and the reference photo.

I did a course with Mark a few years ago. The way he explains it (and I believe the explanation is in a youtube video as well) is that first, you need to find a place to print your photograph with accurate colours - that’s not easy, but such places do exist. Then, as you keep painting through this method, you will train your eye to match colours better so that eventually you won’t need a photograph. Mark also has a device called a colour checker that helps you paint from life and check if your colours are accurate. In the end, this is just one method, there are plenty other instructors who teach the more classical approach. Personally, I found his way very helpful and my paintings look very realistic simply because the colours are identical to my subject. This is for painting realism only, of course.