Course Highlights


Portrait Drawing

There are some basic formulae that have remained largely unchanged over the history of portrait drawing which provide a means for breaking down the structure of the human portrait into its essential parts. Although undoubtedly valuable as guidelines, these rules and processes also allow for individual expression and insight. As a result, they have been widely accepted by artists of diverse backgrounds and artistic styles alike.

The head takes the general shape of an egg, with the top half slightly larger than the lower half. As with other body parts, there is considerable variety in the shape of heads, particularly in the jaw region, however, in general women tend to have somewhat rounder, less angular shaped heads.

The Jaw can be thought of as a shelf upon which the top of the face rests. The jaw can project a powerful impression of strength or elegance depending on the form it takes. There are many unique shapes to a jaw and it can often be one of the defining characteristics of people. Regardless of the form it takes, the jaw line should be emphasized to give the head a firm base to rest upon.

The Neck takes the form of a cylinder. Careful, do not fall back on childhood habits and draw it as two vertical lines. Although the internal structure does not vary from person to person, the external appearance can vary considerably depending on age, gender, health and positioning. Appearance can be affected by skin elasticity which varies with age and fat deposits can build in this area for many people depending on their health. The key visual difference between genders comes from the greater appearance of the larynx in men. As for positioning, you will notice that as you turn your head to the side, various bones and muscles will be more revealed. In looking up, the appearance of the neck smoothes out once again and so forth.

Below is a portrait drawing with guidelines included.




Other pages of interest

Drawing the aged and overweight
Drawing babies, infants and adolescents
Drawing portraits
Portrait drawing 2
Facial features

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