This is the first in a series of articles to contributed by members of the club to help the would be artist to improve and develop.
This first one is by your web site editor
Keith Howard
Drawing in itself can be difficult so so drawing the human face can be a truly daunting process. When you first start out do not worry about achieving a likeness, that will come with time and practise. If you can get your first attempts to look human its a start.
On close examination of the human face you will discover many similarities between people. The examples shown below assume that we are viewing the model from the front with the eyes at your eye level. If the face is tilted forward or backward, or the face is turned to one side then the measurements will be effected.
The face at eye level can be divided into five equal spaces across its width each one eye width. See 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Below.
The with of the nose is one eye width. See 6.
The width of the mouth is approximately the sane as the width between the centre of the eyes.
The eye line C is half way between the top of the head and the base of the chin. A to C Equals C to E.
The space between the top of the eyebrow and the tip of the nose B to D is approximately the same as the space between the tip of the nose to the bottom of the chin D to E.
The examples given are
approximates only and minor variations will be noticed amongst individuals.
Test them out for yourself, give it a try on friends and family.
Drawing the basic dimensions or mapping as it is known, is possibly the most important part of the whole process, get this wrong and nothing will work.
When you have finished your mapping try a few tests, hold your pencil to form a vertical line from the edge of the eye to the bottom of the chin. Notice which points it intersects, on for instance the hair line or the jaw or any other part of the face. Try numerous vertical plum lines at different parts of the face and compare these with your drawing..
Next try to measure a angle between the corner of the eye to the corner of the mouth and again locate the points it intersects.
Hold your pencil at the same angle and place it on your drawing, measure and correct. Don’t move on un till you are entirely satisfied.