Drawing the head in 5 EASY steps

[carynord]

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9526/cimg1488.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg1488.jpg)

Drawing the head in 5 EASY steps

NOTE: It is important that you actually do these steps to fully understand it - don't just read it and think you get it.

This is how easy it is to draw an accurately proportioned human head. ANYONE can do this. Your mom can do this, your 5 yr old can do, mentally disabled people can do this… hell, even writers can do this.

Kick yourself if you call yourself an artist and have never tried this. Seriously, do it. I’ll wait.

Okay, as you’ll see, I did the first 4 steps with a ruler and a circle guide. There is absolutely no drawing skill necessary in the first 4 steps.

Step 1 – get out your circle guide (kick yourself again if you don’t have one of these then go out and buy one) and make a circle that you feel comfortable working within. Bisect the circle with a cross and let the lines run outside of the circle area.
The horizontal line is the browline. The vertical line is the middle of the face.

Step 2 – about two thirds of the way up from the browline indicate the hairline with a mark. That space between the hairline and the browline is the measurement you will use to construct the other two thirds of the face below the browline.

The second third will be where the bottom of the nose is placed (I guess we’ll call it the noseline). The third third will be where the bottom of the chin is placed (chinline). See the example.

Step 3 - Shave off a sliver of the circle on each side to get the shape of the head. Not too much, just enough to get a nice square looking head shape. Add in a pleasing jawline. If you look ahead to my Step 4&5 you’ll see I made the corners of the chin line up with center of the eye. Chins and faces come in all different shapes and sizes but this is a good superhero template.

Step 4 – the head is 5 eye lengths wide so measure out 5 equal spaces from ear to ear. The nose is as wide as one of these lengths.

Now, we’ve already established the browline where we’ll place the eyebrows. To find the eyeline, divide the second third between the browline and the noseline into four equal parts. The eyes are placed onto the first division line. Go back to your head width divisions where you divided it into 5 equal lengths. Find the center of lengths 2 & 4 and, on the eyeline you just established, place your eyeballs.

Divide the bottom third, between the noseline and the chinline, into thirds. The opening of the mouth lies on the first division. The second of these divisions is where you can indicate the top of the chin.

Step 5 – draw it all in. This is going to require some reference, either a photo or your own face in the mirror. Most artists don’t really know how to draw eyes, a nose or a mouth. This is your chance to learn.
The way I use reference is to sit back and study a photo and try to pick up as much information as possible in my head. Then I interpret that information so that I get a nose (or whatever) that fits in with my style and my vision. I refer back to my source often but I don’t draw exactly what I see. I’m just looking for the characteristics of a nose so my drawing is accurate and convincing.

You can (you probably should) make studies of a specific body part on a separate sheet of paper before committing to the final drawing. So draw a bunch of noses in quick sketches until you understand what you’re drawing. Then when you’re doing your final drawing, you’ll already know what you’re doing. You’re taking the guess work out of it.

I've come across a few different versions of this with some subtle differences. This is more or less Andrew Loomis' system (In Loomis We Trust). Try them all and see what works best for you.

Measurement quick guide:

The head is five eye lengths wide.
The nose is one eye length wide and lines up with the corners of the eyes.
The nose is as long as one eye length.
The corners of the mouth line up with the center of the eyes.
The length of the nose and the length of the forehead are about equal.
The hairline, the browline, the noseline and the chinline are all equal distances apart.
The top of the ears are in line with the browline and the bottom of the ears line up with the noseline.

The face has all sorts of these little measurements you can use to create an accurate drawing. Start looking for them when you draw.

[Justice41]

http://home.comcast.net/~justice4one/new.jpg

[horror101]

This question is for Cary. Do you map out the face every time when u draw? I've always had a hard time doing that.

[carynord]

This question is for Cary. Do you map out the face every time when u draw? I've always had a hard time doing that.

When I have a close up, yes... sometimes... not as often as I should. lol. The thing I'm learning after 15 yrs is that doing the construction work saves a ton of time and you get a better finished product. I don't know why artists are so adverse to setting things up properly but it seems to affect us all.

I have a short hand version I use most of the time. Basically I just make the cross on the face and go from there. But knowing the proportions really helps.

[Phatman]

I've used this method to draw several heads and I'm having problems with the jaw line. I've been practicing a lot of the methods Loomis uses in his books and they seem to help once you practice them over and and over and over again. I still need to reference a real face or look in the mirror to get some things right, but the method you show is really helpful in establishing a foundation on which to build your face/head on.

[carynord]

I've used this method to draw several heads and I'm having problems with the jaw line. I've been practicing a lot of the methods Loomis uses in his books and they seem to help once you practice them over and and over and over again. I still need to reference a real face or look in the mirror to get some things right, but the method you show is really helpful in establishing a foundation on which to build your face/head on.

What's the problem with the jawline? Look for things that line up - my jawline was established from the centers of the eye. So if you draw straight lines down from the centers of the eye you get your jawline. You can see this in step 4.

The jaw isn't as wide as the cranium. It's a little smaller. I think Loomis has something to say about this if you're looking for something specific but you I think you'll be alright if you just keep in mind that it isn't as wide as the head.
Post something. Let me see what you're talking about.

[galmando]

the thing i'm really enjoying abut this is knowing that it IS okay to use a lot of reference when drawing, i was always bogged down when i saw these clean drawings in books that looked perfect and wondered how the artist did that.

and now i know that is is okay to use reference, it's a huge relief, i was always under the impression it was frowned upon, i guess it's when people copy or trace stuff that people don't like it 'cough' greg land ' cough

[Scribbly]

But you can copy or trace everything in your student stage.
Or for study purpouses, only.
You can try wherever you want in a experimental way.
When studying, you are cracking the codes.
And creating your artistic and professional basement.
Then, with what you understood from that, you should develop
your working system.
As an example , I can copy a Sargent painting for my study purpouses,
for understanding his technique, his concept and criteria.
And incorporating what is learned in my mental hard drive.
And hopefuly, in my future artwork.
But, if I try of sell the copy as my creation....well, I'm a fool then.
Or a forger.

Sargent, and all those famous painters and illustrators since the Da Vinci
era untill now, they always used models or photos for reference.
Working professionaly, the use of reference is not
a choice, is an obligation.

Using other people's artwork as ours, is cheating.
I think everybody knows the difference, If we do not, people will tell us.
Cough.

[BKMDog]

^ Well, and expertly said, Scribbly. ^

Great job on the layout of that head, Cary. I love it when I've been doing something for a long time ( more or less the way you've done it here ) and then see it articulated in this way. Makes it real solid and a great reference. Thanks again.

[jimmybott]

I've always used reference for background details and take my own photos now and again if I'm looking for something specific. But over the years I have come across people online who seem to believe that using reference lessens your abilities as an artist. That you're only a real artist if you draw straight from your head. I don't agree with the mindset at all. But it is out there and I think it's made an impact on a lot of aspiring artists. I think there are probably a lot of people who have been reading these threads and feel exactly the same as galmando, like "oh, so it's okay to use reference".

If someone asks me to draw a pagoda or something, I sure as hell couldn't draw one very well straight out of my head. I'd be popping over to google or corbis to get some ideas. Right now I'm working on a commission of "The Shadow" and I want to use some art deco looking architecture. So I'm trying to find what I can online to influence the style of the architecture. It doesn't need to be a straight reference of it. Like Cary with his shop front drawing. You can take what you need from it and embelish.

umm...rant over I guess :)

[Justice41]

the thing i'm really enjoying abut this is knowing that it IS okay to use a lot of reference when drawing, i was always bogged down when i saw these clean drawings in books that looked perfect and wondered how the artist did that.

and now i know that is is okay to use reference, it's a huge relief, i was always under the impression it was frowned upon, i guess it's when people copy or trace stuff that people don't like it 'cough' greg land ' cough
LANDGRABS!!! If you're drawing a mercedes are you really going to draw it from memory? Can your memory be that detailed and accurate? If so do, but if not, grab the sunday newspaper and refer. Once I post up the Plot perspective thing I'll try to do a how to draw cars in any angle from any perspective thing. It works for any object no matter the shape. In fact it's sorta been discussed in the First Cary Nord assignment.

[Phatman]

What's the problem with the jawline? Look for things that line up - my jawline was established from the centers of the eye. So if you draw straight lines down from the centers of the eye you get your jawline. You can see this in step 4.

The jaw isn't as wide as the cranium. It's a little smaller. I think Loomis has something to say about this if you're looking for something specific but you I think you'll be alright if you just keep in mind that it isn't as wide as the head.
Post something. Let me see what you're talking about.

Cary:

I used the center of the eye to align the jaw and that seems to be helping. I'd like to post some stuff from my sketchbook when I get a chance and get your feedback on what's going right/wrong. I'm having more of a problem with women's jaws/chins than men's, but I'm probably jumping ahead in the textbook for that. :)

-P

[carynord]

Cary:

I used the center of the eye to align the jaw and that seems to be helping. I'd like to post some stuff from my sketchbook when I get a chance and get your feedback on what's going right/wrong. I'm having more of a problem with women's jaws/chins than men's, but I'm probably jumping ahead in the textbook for that. :)

-P

Ah, the beautiful woman.... always hard to draw. It's the same principle really; all the same rules apply. Construct the female head in exactly the same way, dividing it into thirds, placing the chin in the same place. Make the chin the same width as the nose instead of from the center of the eyes.

[Gav Heryng]

Here's one for you...

How would you draw the head of the dude / chick from The Crying Game?

Gav

[galmando]

just use your face for reference Gav

[carynord]

the thing i'm really enjoying abut this is knowing that it IS okay to use a lot of reference when drawing, i was always bogged down when i saw these clean drawings in books that looked perfect and wondered how the artist did that.

and now i know that is is okay to use reference, it's a huge relief, i was always under the impression it was frowned upon, i guess it's when people copy or trace stuff that people don't like it 'cough' greg land ' cough

Yeah, I don't know where comic artists get these ideas from. I used to think the same thing but quickly realized that the best guys, the guys I admired, would all use reference.

I learned a ton about light, shadows, form and efficiency of line by photocopying old photos with high contrast and drawing that. I recommend trying this. I even recommend tracing them (as a study) to better understand how it works.

This helps to train your eyes to look for shapes rather than outlines.

Scribbly said it well, learn by whatever means you can.

[carynord]

I've always used reference for background details and take my own photos now and again if I'm looking for something specific. But over the years I have come across people online who seem to believe that using reference lessens your abilities as an artist. That you're only a real artist if you draw straight from your head.




Yeah, I wonder how many of those guys are working professionals. Could you imagine getting a contract from Mercedes to draw a car ad and doing it out of your head? They would laugh and laugh at you.

The only possible way you can draw the figure well is if you've spent considerable time observing it --which is exactly what reference is.

[Justice41]

I tell people to focus on the shape and the dynamics of the objects and how they relate to the environment you're creating and then slap a coat of actual reference over it. Draw your car shape then grab a car mag and apply the details of the car to your basic shape. Same with buildings and other inanimate objects.

[carynord]

I tell people to focus on the shape and the dynamics of the objects and how they relate to the environment you're creating and then slap a coat of actual reference over it. Draw your car shape then grab a car mag and apply the details of the car to your basic shape. Same with buildings and other inanimate objects.

Yeah, good way to put it.

[hardinart]

You need to establish the diference between direct and indirect reference. Direct reference is when you trace or completely copy a drawing from a piece of reference. Using direct reference off of copyrighted material is stealing, and punishable by law when used without permission of the copyright holder. Some people get away with it some don't. Ask the guy who made a mint with his Obama "design" that he stole directly from a copyrighted AP Photo, and AP sued is ass out of existence.

Indirect reference is when you look at a picture to get the details of the object you are drawing but your drawing is not a direct copy. Maybe you change the camera angle or simply use a part of reference for your drawing (say a hair style off of a photo of a woman's head instead of using the entire face).

Anyhoo. The best way to be safe when using reference is that you make sure that your art is your own. Put your own style into it and make it distinct from the source material or shoot the reference yourself and you should be fine.

[MBirkhofer]

The same is even true for imaginary objects as well.

Dragons, robots, etc. Using real references for these fictional things will sell the made up parts 1000% more.

the best lies are founded on a bit of truth.

[hardinart]

I tell people to focus on the shape and the dynamics of the objects and how they relate to the environment you're creating and then slap a coat of actual reference over it. Draw your car shape then grab a car mag and apply the details of the car to your basic shape. Same with buildings and other inanimate objects.

Well put Justice you beat me to the punch.

[Justice41]

The same is even true for imaginary objects as well.

Dragons, robots, etc. Using real references for these fictional things will sell the made up parts 1000% more.

the best lies are founded on a bit of truth.
I find that if you name and figure out a function for the robots it's easier to design around that. You don't build a construction robot without figuring out what exactly is needed for construction, etc. etc....

[Biofungus]

I find that if you name and figure out a function for the robots it's easier to design around that. You don't build a construction robot without figuring out what exactly is needed for construction, etc. etc....
There are times when I really can't stand you, but we do see eye to eye on some things :)

That's why I get pissed off sometimes at Hollywood designers, because they add stuff that makes no logical sense, and they leave out stuff that is practically a necessity (from a physiology standpoint).

Sure it's cool to add fancy doodads and whatzitzes to something, but if you're leaving out basic functional design, it just won't fly...

[Justice41]

There are times when I really can't stand you, but we do see eye to eye on some things :)

That's why I get pissed off sometimes at Hollywood designers, because they add stuff that makes no logical sense, and they leave out stuff that is practically a necessity (from a physiology standpoint).

Sure it's cool to add fancy doodads and whatzitzes to something, but if you're leaving out basic functional design, it just won't fly...
Function must be form or it looks silly. How would you design a Whore-bot as opposed to a sex-bot or nanny-bot?
Look at Wall-e, perfect design for what it did.
Why did Jedi yank her drawing? Repost that pic.

[MBirkhofer]

There are times when I really can't stand you, but we do see eye to eye on some things :)

That's why I get pissed off sometimes at Hollywood designers, because they add stuff that makes no logical sense, and they leave out stuff that is practically a necessity (from a physiology standpoint).

Sure it's cool to add fancy doodads and whatzitzes to something, but if you're leaving out basic functional design, it just won't fly...

Yes.
One of my favorite hangouts are some of the concept art forums that are around.
Sijun, etc.
You tend to see much stronger design sense. A good understanding of pneumatics for robotics, architecture for buildings, etc.

Adi talked about his work on Ironman, and he worked with an engineer for Cadillac for the movie.

[Bluepencil]

Here is my practice of male face from here.
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/Bluepencil79/Drawing%20with%20Cary%20Nord/MaleFaceStudy2.jpg

Here are sketches I did before this thread posted.
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/Bluepencil79/Sketches/Sketch040.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/Bluepencil79/Sketches/Sketch037.jpg

I still continues study and practices....

[jedipencil]

I thought I wasn't supposed to post...... sorry..... here was the image; never did it with a ruler before, always did it freehand. Will work on the corrections! :)

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb226/jedipencil/head_sketch.jpg

[BillNichols]

cary,
I'd love for you to contribute some of these to Sketch Magazine! Very informative and useful!

Drop me a line: billn@sketchmagazine.net

Bill

[DJ Keawekane]

LANDGRABS!!! If you're drawing a mercedes are you really going to draw it from memory? Can your memory be that detailed and accurate? If so do, but if not, grab the sunday newspaper and refer. Once I post up the Plot perspective thing I'll try to do a how to draw cars in any angle from any perspective thing. It works for any object no matter the shape. In fact it's sorta been discussed in the First Cary Nord assignment.

Yeah I can't wait for that thread to come out. Drawing buildings is one thing but drawing cars takes perspective to the next level. Different planes and angles are really fun to do. And with the designers who really pushed the envelope in their designs, once you start actually drawing them you realize just how much creative genius goes into designing cars.

The mustang is one of the my most favorite designs of all time, simple but powerful.

[carynord]

Here is my practice of male face from here.
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/Bluepencil79/Drawing%20with%20Cary%20Nord/MaleFaceStudy2.jpg

Here are sketches I did before this thread posted.
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/Bluepencil79/Sketches/Sketch040.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt159/Bluepencil79/Sketches/Sketch037.jpg

I still continues study and practices....

Hey, thanks for trying this out! Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.

Okay, so you and Jedi made the exact same mistake which probably means that my instructions weren't as clear as they could be. You both wound up with skinny elongated heads and it looks like it's because you drew the square in step 3 inside of the circle, whereas I drew it outside of the circle.
The square isn't a part of the process, or at least not part of my process. Ignore the square and focus on creating a good shape for the head. You both shaved too much off the sides of that circle which threw all your other measurements off kilter. You're looking to create a good head shape here so go with your instincts on this one or, look more closely at my example and copy that.

I think if you guys try this again with that in mind, you'll have a much better result.

[AntFace]

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/munzdogg11/headhomework.jpg

This was a bit different and "robotic" (very precise) from how I usually like to draw heads but it was definitely worth doing. I usually just draw from an oval with the brow and middle vertical lines roughed in. However, it seems I need to adjust my method a bit because I feel like your example (with it's added little bit of extra chin at the bottom) is more accurate for all things below the nose.

[Justice41]

This method also helps get rid of that tendency we all have to draw slightly askew if we are right or left handed. Take any drawing, flip it around and you'll see the skewing. Mine skew badly at times that my faces look like Shannon Doherty from 90210.

[carynord]

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/munzdogg11/headhomework.jpg

This was a bit different and "robotic" (very precise) from how I usually like to draw heads but it was definitely worth doing. I usually just draw from an oval with the brow and middle vertical lines roughed in. However, it seems I need to adjust my method a bit because I feel like your example (with it's added little bit of extra chin at the bottom) is more accurate for all things below the nose.

Alright! A motivated artist, who'da thought? Good job, man. Nice to see you trying these!

You have a nice shape to the head. I'll bet you didn't look in the mirror once though ;)

The cheekbones you added are not quite in the right spot. The cheekbones are 5 eye lengths wide just like you did in step 4 so start your cheekbones in from that point.

Your eyes, ears, nose and mouth could all use a little more observation from life. Try it again with a mirror.

[sampson77]

Cary, what do you recommend for people who are having trouble with the hair? Thanks!

[Sequential76]

Here's mine, I did alot of rework on the final, I had ears really small, my chin was of center. Little things that make potentially good drawing look like mush.
Thanks!

http://www.sequential76.com/images/misc/nordheadlesson_850.jpg

[carynord]

Cary, what do you recommend for people who are having trouble with the hair? Thanks!

Hmm. Well, the best thing you can do is always go back to the source and that is, check out some reference of some model with good hair. There are principles that apply to drawing hair - I'll have to bust out some examples as it's hard to explain.

[carynord]

Here's mine, I did alot of rework on the final, I had ears really small, my chin was of center. Little things that make potentially good drawing look like mush.
Thanks!

http://www.sequential76.com/images/misc/nordheadlesson_850.jpg

Hey, glad to see you tried this!

Okay, your finished result looks pretty good - he kinda reminds me of Wilhem Dafoe (or however you spell it), however, it looks like you messed up a few of the earlier steps. In step 2 you didn't quite divide the plane of the face into equal 3rds which is the foundation for the placement of the key features -- this is why your nose looks a little short. The spaces between your 1, 2, 3 and 4 number markers should all be equal thirds.

You have a nice head shape going on. The head is 5 equal eye lengths wide. You look like you were eyeballing it to how you think it should look instead of keeping it strictly 5 equal eye lengths. The result here is that your eyes are a little too big and the head looks a little too narrow.

I think on whole, your male face is a little too feminine looking from the cheekbones right down to the chin. Keep the features wide and broad as opposed to delicate and sharp. Men will generally have thicker and less shapely eyebrows than a woman. Those eyelashes are definitely on the feminine side too but it could work if you broadened up the other features. Give him a thicker neck. The lips are a little too full. Men will have smaller lips than women.

I'd recommend you try this exercise again with some ref and compare the results. Get a picture of a boxer or a wrestler and carefully observe his features. Watch your measurements too when you're setting it up.

Good work, man!

EDIT: I just noticed that in Step 4 you measured your eye lengths to the edge of the circle when you were supposed to shave the sides of the circle off to form the head shape. You have to measure your eye lengths up inside what's left, not to the edge of the circle.

[j giar]

I've got a ton of questions on this but I'll keep it down to just a couple...
How do these measurements affect someone who's head is shorter or more condensed? Will these measurements always work? I mean when I draw I use the eyes and nose to line the ears...But what about someone with a longer or wider nose? Will that equate to the eyes further apart or closer together?
Were drawing more superhero based faces here...what about ugly people? :D
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5941/sketch2r.jpg

[Sequential76]

:) Yeah it wasn't intentional but it does look like Defoe!

One the second try I tried my best to stay true to your example. I had to forget my habits for the moment and I think it paid off. My biggest push was keeping the cheek bones and chin wide.

I like the superman feel.

Thanks again,
~D
http://www.sequential76.com/images/misc/nordheadlesson2_850.jpg

[Sequential76]

I hope this doesn't offend you Cary but I had to do it! :cool:

http://www.sequential76.com/images/misc/nordheadlesson3_650.jpg

[carynord]

:) Yeah it wasn't intentional but it does look like Defoe!

One the second try I tried my best to stay true to your example. I had to forget my habits for the moment and I think it paid off. My biggest push was keeping the cheek bones and chin wide.

I like the superman feel.

Thanks again,
~D
http://www.sequential76.com/images/misc/nordheadlesson2_850.jpg

Nice, dude! Big difference between the two. And the Conan rocks, man! lol

[madelf]

Cary, I'd like to hear your thoughts on something.

I've always looked at the highly precise method of facial construction that you're using here as a "base model". In my experience it gives a single facial type - a very square face with slightly narrow-set eyes. As can be seen in the examples people have submitted, it forces a tremendous consistency. The result is that every drawing submitted (with the exception of the Conan pic, which has some individuality but still very much fits the "type") is essentially of the same character. This is why I see it as only an idealized "norm" from which almost all people deviate in different ways.

I've always felt that only by consciously breaking this rule, can an artist achieve true individuality in their characters. And, further, that by intentionally and consistently altering the spacing and shapes used to construct the face, the artist can consistently achieve characters who are true, and recognizable, individuals.

What are your thoughts? Am I off base here? And, if so, how would you recommend achieving individuality without breaking the rules you've laid out?

[carynord]

Cary, I'd like to hear your thoughts on something.

I've always looked at the highly precise method of facial construction that you're using here as a "base model". In my experience it gives a single facial type - a very square face with slightly narrow-set eyes. As can be seen in the examples people have submitted, it forces a tremendous consistency. The result is that every drawing submitted (with the exception of the Conan pic, which has some individuality but still very much fits the "type") is essentially of the same character. This is why I see it as only an idealized "norm" from which almost all people deviate in different ways.

I've always felt that only by consciously breaking this rule, can an artist achieve true individuality in their characters. And, further, that by intentionally and consistently altering the spacing and shapes used to construct the face, the artist can consistently achieve characters who are true, and recognizable, individuals.

What are your thoughts? Am I off base here? And, if so, how would you recommend achieving individuality without breaking the rules you've laid out?

As the saying goes, you gotta know the rules before you break them, however, this is the basic structure of the face -most people will fall into this category. The head is still going to be 5 eye lengths wide unless you're drawing the Kingpin, then you can probably make it slightly wider but I don't think it's going to vary much. The face is still broken up into thirds with the nose, mouth and eyes falling in the same places.

Play around with it a bit, you'll see you can get lots of different types just by making very slight exaggerations to the features. The basic structure will still apply. These same rules apply to the female face which, hopefully, won't look anything like this dude we've been drawing here.

[madelf]

As the saying goes, you gotta know the rules before you break them, however, this is the basic structure of the face -most people will fall into this category. The head is still going to be 5 eye lengths wide unless you're drawing the Kingpin, then you can probably make it slightly wider but I don't think it's going to vary much. The face is still broken up into thirds with the nose, mouth and eyes falling in the same places.

Play around with it a bit, you'll see you can get lots of different types just by making very slight exaggerations to the features. The basic structure will still apply. These same rules apply to the female face which, hopefully, won't look anything like this dude we've been drawing here.
Thanks, Cary.

But I wasn't thinking so much about the broader elements like the head being 5 eye lengths wide or the vertical thirds, so much as the finer details like the spacing between the eyes, the width of the nose, mouth, etc. Those seemed awfully fixed in your example, and I don't believe they are in reality.

Maybe I should just grab some photographs and a ruler, and find out.

[carynord]

Thanks, Cary.

But I wasn't thinking so much about the broader elements like the head being 5 eye lengths wide or the vertical thirds, so much as the finer details like the spacing between the eyes, the width of the nose, mouth, etc. Those seemed awfully fixed in your example, and I don't believe they are in reality.

Maybe I should just grab some photographs and a ruler, and find out.

I'm pretty sure the eyes always have the same spacing. You're not going to find too many variations in people's proportions - features will pretty much still connect in the same spots. Creating individuality comes more from the characteristics you give those features rather than their spacing. For instance, how many different ways can you draw a nose? How many different types of eye shapes can you come up with? Fat lips or thin lips? Broad chin or weak chin? Big forehead or short forehead? Thin or thick Eyebrows? See what I'm saying? All these things have variables, but will still pretty much line up with this guide.

[j giar]

I'm pretty sure the eyes always have the same spacing. You're not going to find too many variations in people's proportions - features will pretty much still connect in the same spots. Creating individuality comes more from the characteristics you give those features rather than their spacing. For instance, how many different ways can you draw a nose? How many different types of eye shapes can you come up with? Fat lips or thin lips? Broad chin or weak chin? Big forehead or short forehead? Thin or thick Eyebrows? See what I'm saying? All these things have variables, but will still pretty much line up with this guide.

This answered my question. Thanks,

[carynord]

I've got a ton of questions on this but I'll keep it down to just a couple...
How do these measurements affect someone who's head is shorter or more condensed? Will these measurements always work? I mean when I draw I use the eyes and nose to line the ears...But what about someone with a longer or wider nose? Will that equate to the eyes further apart or closer together?
Were drawing more superhero based faces here...what about ugly people? :D
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5941/sketch2r.jpg

This looks pretty good here. For some reason his eyes seem a little too high, which may be because his face was too narrow? You gave him a low hairline which also may have something to do with it. But you have the concept down.

I think next we'll go into some of the finer details of the face and concentrate on specifics (nose, mouth, eyes.. ears! that's alwys fun).

I'm just in the middle of a deadline so it'll have to wait for a week.

[madelf]

I'm pretty sure the eyes always have the same spacing.
I'm pretty sure they don't, but I guess it doesn't matter much. I'll do some research and decide for myself. I was just curious as to your thoughts on it.

At least you got me thinking, right?

[j giar]

This looks pretty good here. For some reason his eyes seem a little too high, which may be because his face was too narrow? You gave him a low hairline which also may have something to do with it. But you have the concept down.

I think next we'll go into some of the finer details of the face and concentrate on specifics (nose, mouth, eyes.. ears! that's alwys fun).

I'm just in the middle of a deadline so it'll have to wait for a week.

I think his nose is to big.....which makes his eyes to high. I've a got big nose and feel everyone should have one. EVERYONE! :)
Yes...facial details. Awesome. :carrot:

[carynord]

I'm pretty sure they don't, but I guess it doesn't matter much. I'll do some research and decide for myself. I was just curious as to your thoughts on it.

At least you got me thinking, right?

Averages. This is just a guide - a starting point so that artists here are aware that there are some principles for this stuff that will make it easier to draw. I don't know how practical it would be to take such a mechanical approach to every head you draw but what's important is that you know the general proportions for a head so you're conscious of it while you draw. There is a lot of room for variety using this framework. I just tried out a few different types of heads using this guide and making some slight changes and came up with a fat guy, a woman, a skinny guy, and an ugly guy... all within these parameters. You can even make narrow eyes by adjusting their placement however, the head should still be about the same 5 eye lengths. The width of the nose can vary all you want and doesn't have to line up with the corners of the eyes but generally this is how people are built.

A common error artists make is to not leave enough space between the ears and the eyes. Another common mistake is putting too much space between the eyes. While it IS possible to come across people like this (and maybe you'll want a specific character with these characteristics) it is not the average... which is usually what you're going to find in a superhero comic.

[madelf]

I think we're generally on the same page, Cary.
I definitely agree there needs to be an average, or basis to start from. As such, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this one. I learned a slightly different approach, using an ellipse as a starting point, but it uses the same basic principles.

Out of curiosity, I took some time last night to overlay the mathematical grid onto some photos of actual faces, rescaling the grid as required to match the shape of the face. I was mainly looking at the eye spacing.

Out of about ten people, two were dead on. The rest were fairly close. Based on my limited sample, the grid seems to lean slightly toward narrower than average eye spacing, but not by a lot (all of the ones who didn't match had slightly wider eye spacing, none had narrower).

Noses, mouths, and head shapes were all over the place, but the vertical thirds still held up pretty well too.

Interesting experiment.

[Justice41]

I think we're generally on the same page, Cary.
I definitely agree there needs to be an average, or basis to start from. As such, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this one. I learned a slightly different approach, using an ellipse as a starting point, but it uses the same basic principles.

Out of curiosity, I took some time last night to overlay the mathematical grid onto some photos of actual faces, rescaling the grid as required to match the shape of the face. I was mainly looking at the eye spacing.

Out of about ten people, two were dead on. The rest were fairly close. Based on my limited sample, the grid seems to lean slightly toward narrower than average eye spacing, but not by a lot (all of the ones who didn't match had slightly wider eye spacing, none had narrower).

Noses, mouths, and head shapes were all over the place, but the vertical thirds still held up pretty well too.

Interesting experiment.
Remember though, this is comics. We are trying to draw the Ideal man/ Woman/Child. In How to draw the Marvel way they went over this and even went into how to draw Villains. It's all about drawing the ideal person not the normal average shmo. Comics folks, think comics.

[madelf]

Remember though, this is comics. We are trying to draw the Ideal man/ Woman/Child. In How to draw the Marvel way they went over this and even went into how to draw Villains. It's all about drawing the ideal person not the normal average shmo. Comics folks, think comics.
It's not about superhero vs average shmo.

The problem I'm having (and it's only a problem for me, not with the lesson) is that I learned a completely different method. One that was less strict and expected deviation as the norm, and I thought that was what was throwing me. But even if followed strictly, it results in a very different face than following Cary's method. I'm trying to reconcile the two methods. That's why I'm asking all these questions.

I was about to post my excercise, so this is good timing. You'll see what I mean.

What I did, as an experiment, was follow Cary's method for the face on the left, and the method I learned years ago on the right. I tried to keep the actual features as similar as possible, to the point of copy/pasting them in photoshop. Considering the actual features (eyes, noses, mouth, jaw-profile, hairline, etc) are absolutely identical, the difference in the faces is fairly significant.

http://www.madelf.net/FACES.JPG

Now I'm not sure I want to say my old method is wrong, necessarily. I'm going to lay it over some actual faces, the same as I did Cary's, before I make that call. But I'm defintitely thinking that it's influenced my drawing style for a lot of years.

Back when I learned it, I blindly accepted it as "the way it's done". I'd seen Cary's method before, but never bothered with it - figuring it was just a more mathematical way to do what I was already doing (and I alway hated math). If I'd just gone through the motions of this lesson, without picking it apart, that's still where I'd be.

Because I looked closely at it, and noticed it was getting different results, I started questioning it, trying to figure out why the results were different. I compared it to real faces. Then I experimented with both methods. I'm still not sure what conclusions to take from it, but it's been an eye-opener.

All because I question things.

[Justice41]

I never learned to draw using any sort of method, I just drew people walking around, sitting down, talking, just average schmo's. I walked with a sketchbook and just watched and drew people as they went their merry way. I learned to draw very quickly and memorize the rest so I could finish the drawing later. I also learned to draw without looking at the paper. I still have problem's drawing comic booky faces as I want to draw them realistic.

[j giar]

I think what Cary was trying to do in this exercise was to get us to go back to measuring, not necessarily with a ruler, all the visual guidelines that exist on any face or body for that matter. Check points if you will to keep everything in proportion. In this case it was on the face and correct placement of eyes, nose, ears. At least that's what I pulled from it.

[madelf]

I still have problem's drawing comic booky faces as I want to draw them realistic.I'd rather draw them realistic myself. I don't have much interest in drawing superheroes.

[carynord]

It's not about superhero vs average shmo.

The problem I'm having (and it's only a problem for me, not with the lesson) is that I learned a completely different method. One that was less strict and expected deviation as the norm, and I thought that was what was throwing me. But even if followed strictly, it results in a very different face than following Cary's method. I'm trying to reconcile the two methods. That's why I'm asking all these questions.

I was about to post my excercise, so this is good timing. You'll see what I mean.

What I did, as an experiment, was follow Cary's method for the face on the left, and the method I learned years ago on the right. I tried to keep the actual features as similar as possible, to the point of copy/pasting them in photoshop. Considering the actual features (eyes, noses, mouth, jaw-profile, hairline, etc) are absolutely identical, the difference in the faces is fairly significant.

http://www.madelf.net/FACES.JPG

Now I'm not sure I want to say my old method is wrong, necessarily. I'm going to lay it over some actual faces, the same as I did Cary's, before I make that call. But I'm defintitely thinking that it's influenced my drawing style for a lot of years.

Back when I learned it, I blindly accepted it as "the way it's done". I'd seen Cary's method before, but never bothered with it - figuring it was just a more mathematical way to do what I was already doing (and I alway hated math). If I'd just gone through the motions of this lesson, without picking it apart, that's still where I'd be.

Because I looked closely at it, and noticed it was getting different results, I started questioning it, trying to figure out why the results were different. I compared it to real faces. Then I experimented with both methods. I'm still not sure what conclusions to take from it, but it's been an eye-opener.

All because I question things.


There's not much of a significant difference there. I'd say either method will work just fine. The first thing you want to do is define your goals. If you want to draw comics for the big two or any kind of commercial art, you're going to want to draw idealized faces and I've shown a formula that works.

You've drawn an average looking guy that is definitely not a superhero. If that's what you're after, all the power to you. It never hurts to have more knowledge at your fingertips though.

[Justice41]

I'd rather draw them realistic myself. I don't have much interest in drawing superheroes.
Life drawings and photo ref would be your best bet, at least for the details. If you can you should find a copy of the Loomis (http://home.comcast.net/~justice4one/head-hands.pdf) books. Old but still pertinent.

[madelf]

There's not much of a significant difference there. I'd say either method will work just fine. The first thing you want to do is define your goals. If you want to draw comics for the big two or any kind of commercial art, you're going to want to draw idealized faces and I've shown a formula that works.Understood. No argument from me there.

I'd say it's likely that the method I've been using was never intended for idealized faces. I don't know because I honestly can't remember where I picked it up.

You've drawn an average looking guy that is definitely not a superhero. If that's what you're after, all the power to you. It never hurts to have more knowledge at your fingertips though.More knowledge is always good. And if I've just figured out a way that I can reliably draw a superhero or an average joe, on demand, simply by swapping construction methods... that's some pretty handy knowledge IMO.

[madelf]

Life drawings and photo ref would be your best bet, at least for the details. If you can you should find a copy of the Loomis (http://home.comcast.net/~justice4one/head-hands.pdf) books. Old but still pertinent.
I've got a copy of his figure drawing book. I have the others in electronic format, but haven't gotten around to printing them out. I should probably do that.

[John Rauch]

Cary, I don't know what your plans are for the next lesson, but I am curious how these rules apply to a head drawn at a more three-dimensional angle. Do you mark out planes and measure from them or do you have a different method? I've had a fairly ok measuring system for front shots like this, but end up guessing the 3d angles and my likenesses become weak.

[carynord]

Cary, I don't know what your plans are for the next lesson, but I am curious how these rules apply to a head drawn at a more three-dimensional angle. Do you mark out planes and measure from them or do you have a different method? I've had a fairly ok measuring system for front shots like this, but end up guessing the 3d angles and my likenesses become weak.

This is just a way to become acquainted with the principles of mapping out a face. It's too impractical to do such a mechanical approach to every face you draw. What I'm hoping is that people keep these principles in mind while they're drawing.

There is a much more relaxed method for mapping out the head that I'm sure most of you are familiar with. We'll tackle that next... as soon as I get this damn book out the front door!

[John Rauch]

Cool. I can't wait to see it. The vertical distances never gave me much problem, but measuring horizontally always ended with me guessing. Not that I draw much anymore except for fun, but it would still be nice to have one formula I can rely on when I do.

[OZ!]

Here's mine. I tend to do something similar(but obviously more lazy with less measurements).

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/ozthepowerful/faceexercise.jpg

[carynord]

Here's mine. I tend to do something similar(but obviously more lazy with less measurements).

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/ozthepowerful/faceexercise.jpg

Nice. You're obviously not worried about being precise ;)

Eyeballing it is fine, but try to make your measurements more accurate. You marked off 5 eye lengths but they're not equal. Your head is also leaning and lopsided.

Cool, though man. Thanks for posting!

[OZ!]

Yeah, I don't tend to use a straight rule... rarely ever. As for the lopsidedness... oops. I didn't realize the cheekbone was off. Oh well, practice makes perfect. I'll be back in a sec.

[OZ!]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/ozthepowerful/faces.jpg

Ok, let's try this again. I fixed the eye gaps, and the cheek bone as well as the crookedness(crookedness fixed w/ PS, the rest was hand)

[Nick Pitarra]

I'm also one of those guys who hates using rulers too. I always use them on my backgrounds and underdrawings but I usually free hand ink my stuff as much as possible...to give things a lived in look(plus I'm lazy). I did the template then fixed what was wrong with it by inking the face on top...if I would have followed the blue line exactly the face would have looked more off than it does already.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6673/525252002.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=525252002.jpg)

I think the next logical step following this assignment would be a character sheet...with profile and 3/4ths turn around shots. Then maybe a full body character sheet with the same following that. Right now I like that we got a perspective thing going and a preportion thing going.

~nick

[Nick Pitarra]

Hey OZ! I noticed some things with your stuff. The main thing is just realizing the under form a little bit more. Like where/how you sit the eye lid defines the roundness/placement of the eye. And then how much of the eye is showing combined with that curve of the eyelid helps define how the eye (a ball) fits into the eye socket. Like on your second face, you're eyes are at two different heights on his face. The right eye is sitting up and in his head more, while the other eye is sitting lower. I flipped it in PS. You approach drawing a lot like me, relying more on your gut and natural talent to draw more than anything else,I always fall into these problems too. I usually flip my stuff to try and correct it with my light box. Anyways...the other thing to watch is to realize the eye is a ball, and basically those 5 balls make up the width of the face, not neccesarily how much of the eye we see. Like we don't see the furthest side of each of our eyballs(they are sunk into our heads). Right now you're eyes openings fit exactly into that gap for the eye, which means your eyes are actually bigger, and therefor your face looks like the eyes are too close and the sides of the face aren't out far enough. This isn't something you always do...just something you did on this face. It is however something I always do. :p


http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8875/facefix.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=facefix.jpg)

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5149/eyewidth.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eyewidth.jpg)

The eye's I drew actually wouldn't run across the face, because you have your head tilted down a hair, so the eye's wouldn't be as bad as the over draw, but still off, and still too close together.

Best,
nick

[OZ!]

Yeah, I get what you're saying but nobody has equal eye space to the sides so I don't do it that way, period. However, crooked cheekbones, and lopsided eyes shouldn't be done either so I will work on those. Check that top pick though, his eyes aren't too close together. As it is, looks like I have some practicing to do. ;)

[carynord]

Yeah, I get what you're saying but nobody has equal eye space to the sides so I don't do it that way, period. However, crooked cheekbones, and lopsided eyes shouldn't be done either so I will work on those. Check that top pick though, his eyes aren't too close together. As it is, looks like I have some practicing to do. ;)

You have to measure the eyes from the inside corners of the eye... not from the outside of the eyelids. I dunno, maybe it's just my observation (not to mention great artists of the past) but I find that these guidelines are pretty accurate. It's straight out of the Loomis books.

Anyway, be aware of these principles while you're drawing.

[OZ!]

The middle eye is extremely accurate... but the eye distance to the sides isn't. Try it.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/ozthepowerful/facialmeasurements.jpg

But yeah, regardless, I need to work on making the structure more symmetrical and the eyes better distanced.

[OZ!]

I can live with a hair.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/ozthepowerful/facesmeas.jpg

[carynord]

The middle eye is extremely accurate... but the eye distance to the sides isn't. Try it.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/ozthepowerful/facialmeasurements.jpg

But yeah, regardless, I need to work on making the structure more symmetrical and the eyes better distanced.

That's still not the inside corners of the eyes. It's literally from one inside corner to the other.

Loomis has this to say...

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4434/picture1wyp.png (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture1wyp.png)

[OZ!]

You're going to have to show me because what he has measured from 1-2 and 3-4 is the same thing I circled and highlighted.

[carynord]

You're going to have to show me because what he has measured from 1-2 and 3-4 is the same thing I circled and highlighted.

No, you got it in your drawing --the photos however weren't measured from the corners of the eye, they were including the outside lid.

This system was derived from averages and it's only a tool for artists to use. In comic books, we're always trying to draw ideals.

[BCastonzo]

Hi!

Just wanted to get in on the action. With all the fuss about this method being rigid and inflexible, I was inspired to do a little experimenting. Check it out -
A generic male face more than a bit inspired by Christian Bale; Superman; a female face; and something toward an effective design of Brainiac...All hewn from the geometric guide Cary laid out.

Sure, Bale's face is a bit thinner from cheek to chin, I fudged the proportions slightly to create my preferred Superman, the chick could probably use a more elegant jawline, and Brainiac's entire visage ought to be stretched into something a bit more gaunt and alien. But all in all, the system works, and you can create good variety within it.

Thanks, Cary! :thumbs:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb204/castonzo/Head_Studies.jpg

[carynord]

Well done!

[madelf]

With all the fuss about this method being rigid and inflexible,

I fudged the proportions slightly to create my preferred Superman
:laugh:

I don't think it really qualified as a "fuss", and the whole point of raising the question was to try and confirm that it's sometimes appropriate to "fudge the proportions".

[AntFace]

Alright! A motivated artist, who'da thought? Good job, man. Nice to see you trying these!

You have a nice shape to the head. I'll bet you didn't look in the mirror once though ;)

The cheekbones you added are not quite in the right spot. The cheekbones are 5 eye lengths wide just like you did in step 4 so start your cheekbones in from that point.

Your eyes, ears, nose and mouth could all use a little more observation from life. Try it again with a mirror.

Guilty as charged. I will give it another go...

[Justice41]

Hi!

Just wanted to get in on the action. With all the fuss about this method being rigid and inflexible, I was inspired to do a little experimenting. Check it out -
A generic male face more than a bit inspired by Christian Bale; Superman; a female face; and something toward an effective design of Brainiac...All hewn from the geometric guide Cary laid out.

Sure, Bale's face is a bit thinner from cheek to chin, I fudged the proportions slightly to create my preferred Superman, the chick could probably use a more elegant jawline, and Brainiac's entire visage ought to be stretched into something a bit more gaunt and alien. But all in all, the system works, and you can create good variety within it.

Thanks, Cary! :thumbs:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb204/castonzo/Head_Studies.jpg
Nice. You a lefty?

[BCastonzo]

Nope. Why, am I overcompensating for my right-hander's slant?

[John Rauch]

Finally made time to do this myself. I forgot to save at each step, so the final is all I have to post. OK, so I added like...two more steps at the end. Sue me.

http://retroaero.com/digitalwebbing/face-study.jpg

[Justice41]

Nope. Why, am I overcompensating for my right-hander's slant?
Slightly but no biggie.

[BCastonzo]

John, was that done in Painter or Photoshop? Beautiful work. I am constantly amazed at the textures you colorin' folk can achieve with digital brushes. (then again, maybe that's analog color and I should just shut my big mouth...)

[John Rauch]

John, was that done in Painter or Photoshop? Beautiful work. I am constantly amazed at the textures you colorin' folk can achieve with digital brushes. (then again, maybe that's analog color and I should just shut my big mouth...)

It was done in Photoshop. I've spent a long time developing brushes that look as non-digital as I can make them. I shouldn't have painted this exercise though. It's probably just a distraction.

[carynord]

It was done in Photoshop. I've spent a long time developing brushes that look as non-digital as I can make them. I shouldn't have painted this exercise though. It's probably just a distraction.

It's a good distraction though. :) Looks good proportion-wise, John... and your colors are totally rad! I think your features (eyes, ears, nose, mouth) could have benefited from a little more real-life observation despite your style choices. That's actually something I want to explore a little more - an in-depth look at eyes, ears, noses and mouths.

[carynord]

Nope. Why, am I overcompensating for my right-hander's slant?

Yeah, there is a slight lean to the right there. Fortunately I have the perfect fix for that! Stay tuned.

[Tannerama]

I just joined Digital Webbing to take part in these. I just got approved to post in the forums. I did this tutorial this weekend and I have a few questions. I'll post my drawing as soon as I get home from work.

[j giar]

Once this started I went out and bought an inexpensive sketch book to keep exercises in....So the last three days I've been brushing up on sketching faces. These are from the Facial Expressions book....well...except for Bats, Two face and J. Those are mine. But I kept in mind the principals we went over in this exercise and even in the case of real life people, those principals still hold up.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1949/faces1.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6307/faces10002.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/566/faces10003.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2928/faces10004.jpg

[AntFace]

tried again using my own mug as reference...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/munzdogg11/headretry.jpg

...and now that I post it I see some eyebrow issues :man:

[Tannerama]

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv234/Tannertrue/TheHeadin5.jpg

It looks okay. However, I feel like his cheekbones are too wide. I measured out the 5 eye widths. Any other crits are welcome and necessary.

Are there any rules like this for drawing the head from different angles? Mostly because when I am drawing I am rarely drawing a head straight on. (I've been told it breaks the 4th wall.)

[carynord]

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv234/Tannertrue/TheHeadin5.jpg

It looks okay. However, I feel like his cheekbones are too wide. I measured out the 5 eye widths. Any other crits are welcome and necessary.

Are there any rules like this for drawing the head from different angles? Mostly because when I am drawing I am rarely drawing a head straight on. (I've been told it breaks the 4th wall.)


Hey tannerama, glad to see you tried this out.

You've made several small mistakes here, but first a general note to all -

One mistake that I think most people made is that they're trying to draw exactly as I did. If you'll look at the Loomis example I posted (in someones crit a page or two back) I didn't try to draw like Loomis, I only used his system. He and I have two different results.

Take the system and use your own REFERENCE. That's the missing ingredient here. You guys are fudging on the details that are really going to sell it to people. Take the time and draw a real eye instead of winging it. If you can't find a picture, use your own face as reference.

Okay, Tannerama, back to you :)

Okay, good. You have the right idea. The first thing I noticed is that you placed the eyes a little too high. The corners of each eye should rest on the 'eyeline'. Eyes have a nice almond shape to them. The eyeline should cut right through the center of the eye leaving space on either side of the line.

If you grabbed some reference ;) ... you would have noted that there is hair in the sideburn area that you didn't add in your drawing. Adding a sideburn will make the wide cheekbones look more normal.

The opening of the mouth rests on the first 3rd of the jaw area, not in the middle as you have it. Take a closer look at my own, or the Loomis example.

The hairline is a little high but that's cool --maybe he's an aging gent--but note that the average or ideal hairline is a little lower that what you drew.

Give it another shot and post it up!

[carynord]

tried again using my own mug as reference...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/munzdogg11/headretry.jpg

...and now that I post it I see some eyebrow issues :man:

Aha! Glad to see you using reference! ...and check out the results! You have a totally naturalistic, believable drawing here.

You did a particularly nice job on the ears (and ears are a pain to draw). I also like the eyes-- and the eyebrows don't bother me at all! Nice attention to detail.

The jaw is a little off center which makes the head look a little lopsided... and if you look at your step 4 you can see you weren't very accurate with your symmetry. The nose might be a little on the long side... just by a hair.

Overall, this is nice work!

[carynord]

Once this started I went out and bought an inexpensive sketch book to keep exercises in....So the last three days I've been brushing up on sketching faces. These are from the Facial Expressions book....well...except for Bats, Two face and J. Those are mine. But I kept in mind the principals we went over in this exercise and even in the case of real life people, those principals still hold up.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1949/faces1.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6307/faces10002.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/566/faces10003.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2928/faces10004.jpg

Nice studies. This is really decent work --great character sketches. I think if you paid more attention to your lines you'd have something really great going on (I know, they're sketches). Start thinking about creating depth with your lines. Heavier lines for shadow regions and lighter lines for highlights. You seem to consistently use the same line weight for everything.

I'd like to see a little more confidence in your lines as well - you look a little hesitant here. Be more deliberate when you put the pen/pencil to paper.

[Tannerama]

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv234/Tannertrue/TheHeadin5part2.jpg

Second attempt. I used a red carpet picture of Sam Rockwell for reference. It really was a bit more liberating working from reference of my choosing. The first attempt felt really... constipated? Thanks Cary for the crit on the first one. How does this one look?

[carynord]

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv234/Tannertrue/TheHeadin5part2.jpg

Second attempt. I used a red carpet picture of Sam Rockwell for reference. It really was a bit more liberating working from reference of my choosing. The first attempt felt really... constipated? Thanks Cary for the crit on the first one. How does this one look?

NICE! Looks fantastic!

[Funfetus]

How does this one look?Everything looks great, except that the eyes are a bit crooked.

[Tannerama]

Everything looks great, except that the eyes are a bit crooked.

I think I see what you're talking about. But could you be more specific? Just want to get it right.

[Justice41]

If you can flip the art and look at it you'll see what he means plus the eyes seem kinda close together.
http://home.comcast.net/~justice4one/TheHeadin5.jpg

[Tannerama]

Perfect! Thank you. I'll work on it.

[Justice41]

This is probably not the time but when drawing eye's draw the entire circle for the eyeball, do it lightly then draw the eye socket and always keep in mind the thickness of the skin that makes up the eyelids. Biggest rookie mistake is drawing the pupil as a full circle when the eye is in a regular position. You should leave a sliver of space on the lower lid signifying the lids thickness.
http://inexorablyloved.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/sunny-eyes-012b.jpg
http://discovermagazine.com/2007/mar/eye-color-explained/eyes-400.jpg

[Skothu23]

Hello i was fiddlin around on the internet and i found this expression excersize that would be a good step in character developement.
www.illcraft.com/?p=110
I would paste an image but i'm typing this on my iphone.
Anyway, just thought i would share this with everyone!

here is a direct link to the image
http://www.illcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/25_essential_expressions_by_napalmnacey-706x1023.jpg

[Sequential76]

Hello i was fiddlin around on the internet and i found this expression excersize that would be a good step in character developement.
www.illcraft.com/?p=110
I would paste an image but i'm typing this on my iphone.
Anyway, just thought i would share this with everyone!

here is a direct link to the image
http://www.illcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/25_essential_expressions_by_napalmnacey-706x1023.jpg

Cool, I may try that out. Usually I wing it, look in a mirror or type the mood in a search ingine for ref. But this could be a cool exploration and quick cheat sheet. Thanks.

[jedipencil]

Once this started I went out and bought an inexpensive sketch book to keep exercises in....So the last three days I've been brushing up on sketching faces. These are from the Facial Expressions book....well...except for Bats, Two face and J. Those are mine. But I kept in mind the principals we went over in this exercise and even in the case of real life people, those principals still hold up.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1949/faces1.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6307/faces10002.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/566/faces10003.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2928/faces10004.jpg

These are great! The lady with the hat up top and the very last one are fabulous...

[Sequential76]

I decided to practice on this sheet posted earlier by Skothu23.

http://www.sequential76.com/images/misc/25_essential_expressions_David_Miller_850.jpg

[j giar]

Great job David....and even a better idea. Thanks. :thumbs:

[newbold]

i've been out of the loop on this for quite some time. my wife had our first baby, so that's my excuse.
I love what you guys have been doing though. My faces are really suffering so i'm looking for something to help me get better even if it takes a ruler and a circle template :)
here's my first pass at this
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g136/newbs8/18-1.jpg
i've got a few more measured out, I'm going to do more of these and I really like what Miller did, cool stuff dude.

[Justice41]

I have a friend named David miller who lives in Upstate new York. When he lived down here in South Florida we called him Messy Marvin. Names man, a lot of people with the same names. Nice demonstration Seq.

[ponyrl]

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2783/monkeyheads.jpg

my first real attempt at learning to draw primates.

[sampson77]

Hey Cary, sorry if I sound like a broken record, but can we do a hair lesson in the next lesson? I kind of suck at it and I need some help...

[Justice41]

I'm thoroughly disappointed with the turn out for all these lessons. Really sad.

[walterostlie]

http://walterostlie.com/images/scrap/05212009.JPG

Little more cartoony.

[Justice41]

Another Lesson thread gone to pot.

[Eric Rabbitsmasher]

I'll post something in here tomorrow, I got a kid with the flu right now.

[Eric Rabbitsmasher]

I spent quite a bit of time trying to improve my faces, having skated for years with the Frazetta face, then of course, hit the wall with sequentials when I couldn't draw the same face from different angles.

Here's an exercise I do to try and improve on that aspect.

http://img291.imagevenue.com/loc477/th_73290_faceoff001_02_11_122_477lo.jpg (http://img291.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=73290_faceoff001_02_11_122_477lo.jpg )

Columns should be read vertically, I don't actually do it like this, the bottom Two horizontal rows are more like what I'm aiming for, but the idea is to use the same algorithm across the row to get the same face so I showed the rough algorithm.

Bottom row I ended up with Two different faces, changed the mouth, but it could be used to visualize a new character.

I know they used to pick a celebrity to base a character on, so there would be plenty of photo reference, but you still have to learn to draw that face.

[Eric Rabbitsmasher]

Warm ups. Got another sick kid, I'm gonna be all day cleaning up after this one.
http://img260.imagevenue.com/loc486/th_63354_faceoff002_02_11_122_486lo.jpg (http://img260.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=63354_faceoff002_02_11_122_486lo.jpg )

[Justice41]

Sucks doesn't it. Depending on age the spew can be comical. When my boy was about 1 years old he got sick and vomited so hard he broke blood vessels all over his face. He looked like he had been slapped. Another time he was sick and talking to his mommy when a little older and blasted her in the face with some orange red vomit. I howled even when she made me slop up the mess. :laugh:
Kids.

[Eric Rabbitsmasher]

Yeah, and this one is basically a 150lb. toddler - I have vomit stories, no busted blood vessels but plenty of projectile vomiting, he managed to hit the floor at least, but the bed this morning was another story. I spent the first year alone with them up to my elbows in shit, 'cause my ex hadn't even potty trained him, I have a full hazmat routine.

Too much information, I know.