| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | use as a guideline but are just that, a guideline. |
| Faces are a hard thing for some artists to draw | | | | When you are drawing faces, the smallest details |
| correctly. Artists have a hard time achieving a | | | | can make or break the likeness of the portrait |
| likeness to the person or model they are | | | | and can change the whole outlook of the drawing. |
| sketching. Some would argue that the face is the | | | | The mouth, eyes, and nose are some of the |
| hardest to master. With a few basic techniques | | | | areas to look for those subtle differences and |
| you will begin to understand that you can master | | | | what makes a person an individual. Does the |
| the human face and that it is quite possible. | | | | mouth edge tip up or down? Is the nose straight, |
| When drawing faces, there are several mistakes | | | | an uppy? How are the crow feet by the eyes? |
| that artists often make. The first is to draw a | | | | Practice, practice, practice. This old adage says a |
| circle or an oval and then stick a nose in the | | | | lot. |
| middle of it. Beginning artists often make this | | | | If you are having a problem with a particular part |
| mistake. You will see as you come to observe | | | | of the face, don’t be afraid to practice it |
| people that your eyes are actually closer to the | | | | over and over again. This may seem mundane |
| middle of your face than your nose. If you are | | | | but it will really help you achieve a likeness. |
| drawing a model, you can use the measuring and | | | | Sometimes artists will try and exaggerate |
| proportion technique that artists term thumb on | | | | particular characteristics of a person’s |
| pencil. This will help you check your proportions. | | | | face, such as their eyes. Be careful not to do this |
| You will see that proportions on peoples faces | | | | or you’ll end up with something that looks |
| differ and are as individual as their personalities. | | | | nothing like the person you are drawing. Unless |
| For instance, eyes generally line up with the top | | | | you are drawing caricatures, stay away from this. |
| of the ears but we have all seen people whose | | | | Lastly, a quick note on hair. Make sure that you |
| ears seem to be a little higher or lower on the | | | | treat hair as a mass. Never ever draw each |
| head than others. Realizing these differences can | | | | individual strand. This is a beginner’s |
| help you achieve the likeness of the person you | | | | mistake that often ruins a drawing quicker than |
| are drawing. | | | | anything. Hair can really change the outcome of |
| General proportions for artists drawing heads and | | | | the drawing so pay particular care to this feature. |
| faces are found everywhere. They are good to | | | | |