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I've done some looking and as far as drawing is concerned they pretty much all teach sight-size at first. I've given up on trying to reconstruct the method on my own as there is virtually nothing available on it
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Nathan,
The sight-size methodology is indeed in common use in teaching venues such as ateliers, where it provides at least a couple of advantages. If what the student is drawing is exactly the same size as what he or she is looking at (that is, as seen from where the student is standing), it is much easier to see whether the drawing is accurate, because you're able to quickly look back and forth between the subject and the easel and soon your eye becomes trained to see, primarily, the
differences between the two, which then can be eliminated (which in turn, of course, leaves you with an accurate drawing). The other main advantage is that when the instructor critiques the drawing, he's got an "absolute" reference in front of him in nature, just as you do, and he's looking at and for the same qualities and measurements you are. (That is, for example, there's no quibbling about whether your "oversize" or "miniature" drawing is correctly proportioned to the subject's measurements.)
About the only book I've seen with some discussion and illustrations concerning sight-size work was written by a Richard Lack student, Kurt Anderson, "Realistic Oil Painting Techniques", which unfortunately is out of print, though a few used copies are available at Amazon and no doubt elsewhere (for reference, the original price was $28). With so many people craving just this kind of instruction, I'm surprised that the publisher, North Light Books, let this 1995 publication go out of print.
One hazard of the method becomes immediately apparent as soon as you're in a situation (such as a workshop) in which you can't place your easel where you need it in order to create the size drawing you want. Suddenly all the plumb lines have to be "in your head" instead of in front of your eyes (which actually is a good thing -- a great thing, and it's what you're working toward -- but if all your training has been otherwise, it can be disconcerting to have to make the quantum leap in a workshop hurry). Also, if you want to do near life-size renderings using sight-size methodology, the easel has to be sitting right next to the portrait subject, which can be rather awkward.
In any event, I'd be glad to write up a description of the sight-size set-up for you if you'd like. It would get rather lengthy, so I won't post it here for now. (A first for me!!)
Steven