PORTRAITS - FACES
- Consider the head as an oval with a tapered end of the chin.
- A common mistake is to place the eyes too high.
- Facial features only take up about a fourth of the head's area.
Proportions of the Human Head
Drawing the Structure of the Head and Face
To draw the human head accurately, first become familiar with the basic proportions. Traditional rules of proportion show the face divided into six equal squares, two by three. The upper horizontal division is roughly at the 'third eye' level mid-forehead, the lower at the base of the nose. The eyes sit on the horizontal centre, the mouth on the centre of the lower third.
To draw the human head accurately, first become familiar with the basic proportions. Traditional rules of proportion show the face divided into six equal squares, two by three. The upper horizontal division is roughly at the 'third eye' level mid-forehead, the lower at the base of the nose. The eyes sit on the horizontal centre, the mouth on the centre of the lower third.
If you are skeptical of such simple mathematics, try it out on some models in magazines - it works!
This is an ideal which does not account for individual variation.
Observing these basic proportions gives you a starting point to measure against.
By ensuring your basic proportions are correct to begin with, you will avoid major re-draws at a later stage of your work
This is an ideal which does not account for individual variation.
Observing these basic proportions gives you a starting point to measure against.
By ensuring your basic proportions are correct to begin with, you will avoid major re-draws at a later stage of your work
TRY AN 'UPSIDE DOWN DRAWING'
TWO TONE UPSIDE DOWN
Use black paper and white chalk/crayon/ink
Use black paper and white chalk/crayon/ink