JW Learning

Beginner Figure Drawing  - Drawing The Head Part 1 - Intermediate Structures

Hi Katya,Did you try drawing along with the demonstration part of the tutorial on top of doing these sketches?

I have rewatched 2 demonstrations but I did not quite understand if you were measuring the photo (for eye/nose/lips horizontal lines) or drawing "ideal", simplified head. I guess the Front video looks like you did measure the photo because the eye line is not in the middle of the oval.

Hi Katya,

You're getting the right ideas down on paper in terms of construction, but it looks like you're trying to adhere too much to the ideas presented in the video, and not analysing what the reference image is actually showing. In other words, it looks like you're in two minds a little bit. So I'll clear the lesson up a little for you in case something was misinterpreted. <div> </div><div> Keep in mind that we are working with a lot of generalities with our proportions, from the head to the feet. So, take everything said in these proportional lessons as being guidelines not exact measurements, because there are always going to be cases where people don't match exactly with what is said in the lesson. Most people fall slightly inside or outside those proportional rules, very few actually fit them perfectly. Think of proportions as more along the lines of being landmarks, as foundational areas and not exact lengths that we draw on top of. This is because each body is going to be slightly different and it's going to require us to make adjustments accordingly. Consider them as a starting point to develop from, not as the exact skeleton we use to draw. </div><div> </div><div> When in doubt, if you're having trouble, all you need to do is find some part of the head/body as a measuring stick. So for instance, you could use the distance between the hairline and the eyebrows as one unit of measurement and use that to draw in rest of the facial feature accordingly. So if I was to use that in your first example (looking at the reference image), one measurement down from the eyebrow line would end roughly between the nose and the upper lip, and one measurement down again will get you the bottom of the chin. It doesn't have to be that measurement, it can literally be any facial feature that you can use as a yard stick. 

So, let me know if that help to clarify things, and maybe give the drawings another shot. 

Thanks!</div>

Hello Josh! Thank you for the detailed explanation! I have tried one more time (I have updated this project with 2 images).  I have understood that it is hard for me to place facial features in an oval (in that order), so now I started with face features and then continued with the face shape). I am doing less mistakes in proporions that way. I know my drawings still not 100% accurate, but I am seeing some improvement.

Yeah, that looks a little better.  Parts 2 and 3 of the Head Drawing series will cover some of the areas that need addressing, but overall you're getting the concepts presented down.  :)

Hello Josh!
I have understood the main concept. But I am struggling with proportions.
<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/ce8a24a3" alt="1 - image 1 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/ce8a24a3 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/ce8a24a3 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">
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<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/e6ae8dd6" alt="1 - image 2 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/e6ae8dd6 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/e6ae8dd6 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">
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<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/d28a3cb2" alt="1 - image 3 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/d28a3cb2 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/d28a3cb2 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">
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<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/672f3b59" alt="1 - image 4 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/672f3b59 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/672f3b59 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">
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<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/4ff6b68e" alt="1 - image 5 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/4ff6b68e 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/4ff6b68e 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">
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update:
<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/68980253" alt="1 - image 6 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/68980253 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/68980253 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">
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<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/95b0ea20" alt="1 - image 7 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/95b0ea20 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/a83d833a71e4cddab3d814c3d31b9ee4/95b0ea20 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">
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