Mastering Face Drawing: Anatomy, Rules, and Exercises

Mastering Face Drawing: Anatomy, Rules, and Exercises

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Anatomy of the Human Face
  3. The Rule of Thirds
  4. Drawing a Detailed Face
  5. Simplifying the Face
  6. Face Shapes
  7. Laughing at Old Art
  8. Exercises to Improve Face Drawing Skills
  9. Conclusion

Anatomy of the Human Face

Drawing faces can be a daunting task, but understanding the anatomy of the human face can make it much easier. The human face is not a flat surface, so to draw it correctly, we have to understand its surface and angles. Two things that help me draw characters' faces are Michael Hampton's book and lessons and the rule of thirds.

Michael Hampton, also known as my lord and savior, taught me how every feature can be Simplified to a basic Shape. For example, the nose can be simplified to a box with four walls, and on top of it is the narrow space between the eyes, also known as the nose bridge. The mouth can be simplified to a line, and the eyes can be simplified to spheres.

The other thing that helps me draw faces is the rule of thirds. The original rule divides the face with three lines, one for the brows, one for the nose, and one for the chin. But after some tests, I figured out that for me, it's better to indicate the mouth. This helps me to have more space between the brows and nose than nose to mouth.

The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a composition technique that is used in photography, art, and design. It involves dividing an image into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, so that You have nine equal parts. The idea is to place the most important elements of the image along these lines or at their intersections.

In drawing faces, the rule of thirds can be used to indicate the placement of the features. For example, the eyes should be placed along the top horizontal line, the nose along the middle horizontal line, and the mouth along the bottom horizontal line. This helps to Create a balanced and aesthetically pleasing composition.

Drawing a Detailed Face

To draw a detailed face, start by drawing a circle and a vertical line to indicate the direction of the face. Then draw the chin. These parts in which the circle touches the jawline are where I draw my horizontal line one, which is for the eye sockets or the brows. Then draw the other lines for the nose and mouth. Be careful to have more space between brows to nose than nose to mouth. Then draw the ears. The rule says that the ears should start around the brows and end where the nose ends.

The head doesn't stop here. As you see in the photo, the head goes behind the ears, and it's good to indicate it a bit. Also, we have to remember that there are flat parts from both sides of the head, which here won't be so visible, but it's also good to be indicated. The dot is where the hair should be, but if I have to be honest, once I draw my face, the hairline comes naturally, and I look at the photo references as well.

Simplifying the Face

To simplify the face, start with a circle line for direction and three lines for brows, nose, and mouth. Again, more space between brow to nose than nose to mouth. Use photo references as well to draw the shape of the face and slowly start to draw the features one by one. The model head is slightly tilted away from us, so I lower the ears to Show it. Be careful not to miss drawing the head behind the ears, then add details like brows, hair, and clothes.

Face Shapes

There are five basic face shapes: round, oval, triangle, square, and diamond. Pushing the shapes even more can create more unique faces and more variety in your art. Sometimes adding details like the shape of the face in the whole design of the character can make it more interesting.

Laughing at Old Art

Looking back at old art can be a humbling experience. Applying the anatomy rules can make the character more believable. The exercises that help me get better at drawing faces are:

  1. Drawing from life
  2. Drawing from photos
  3. Drawing from imagination
  4. Drawing different expressions
  5. Drawing different angles

Exercises to Improve Face Drawing Skills

  1. Drawing from life: This involves drawing people in real life, whether it's at a coffee shop or a park. It helps to observe the different angles and expressions of the face.

  2. Drawing from photos: This involves using photo references to draw faces. It helps to practice drawing different faces and features.

  3. Drawing from imagination: This involves creating faces from your imagination. It helps to push your creativity and come up with unique faces.

  4. Drawing different expressions: This involves drawing faces with different expressions, such as happy, sad, angry, and surprised. It helps to understand how the features of the face change with different emotions.

  5. Drawing different angles: This involves drawing faces from different angles, such as front, side, and three-quarter view. It helps to understand how the features of the face change with different angles.

Conclusion

Drawing faces can be challenging, but understanding the anatomy of the human face and practicing different exercises can help improve your skills. Remember to have fun and experiment with different shapes and styles. Happy drawing!

Highlights

  • Understanding the anatomy of the human face is crucial for drawing faces.
  • The rule of thirds can be used to indicate the placement of the features.
  • Drawing a detailed face involves drawing a circle and lines for the features.
  • Simplifying the face involves using basic shapes and photo references.
  • There are five basic face shapes: round, oval, triangle, square, and diamond.
  • Exercises to improve face drawing skills include drawing from life, photos, imagination, different expressions, and angles.

FAQ

Q: What are the basic face shapes? A: The basic face shapes are round, oval, triangle, square, and diamond.

Q: What exercises can help improve face drawing skills? A: Exercises that can help improve face drawing skills include drawing from life, photos, imagination, different expressions, and angles.

Q: What is the rule of thirds? A: The rule of thirds is a composition technique that involves dividing an image into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, so that you have nine equal parts. The idea is to place the most important elements of the image along these lines or at their intersections.

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