Pencil whispers on paper's grace,
A portrait sketch, a fleeting trace.
Lines unfold, expressions find,
In every stroke, a captured mind.
The Loomis Method, the perfect way to a great portrait sketch, emphasizing accurate proportions and construction, developed by American illustrator and art instructor Andrew Loomis. Loomis breaks down the head into basic geometric shapes, providing a solid foundation for building the features. The method involves dividing the face into sections, guiding the placement of major features like eyes, nose, and mouth. Horizontal and vertical guidelines help maintain symmetry and proportion.
It's a valuable tool for artists. In this Article, we step into the way to draw a face in 3\4 View.
The Basics
Art by Jenny
1. start with a ball, adjust the size of the ball to your paper, depending on your art composition, it represent the upper part of the head
2. add at one side of the circle a smaller circle, depending on from wich perspective you draw the face, it can be on the left or right side.
3. add in the circle two lines as a cross, this cross represents the direction front of the face and orient to the head.
The horizontal cross line is your eyebrow line continue this line to the circle. Under this line are the eyes located,
divided it in 3 equal sections, outgoing from the eyebrow line
4. add the outlines of the face
5. locate the nose,eyes and mouth, in this article we step closer in the drawing process of them,
at first we take a look at the fundamental of the sketching process.
6. add the line for the hairs on the upper part of the head.
7. you can finish your portrait with this crosshatching method, like me, feel free to be creative.
The line down the center of the nose will help us identify 5 Landmarks. These Landwarks are in this order from top of the face to Bottom:
Top of the Head
Hairline
Eyebrow Line
Nose Line
Chin Line
The Hair Line ist located a half way up from the eyebrow line. The Space between the Eyebrow and Hairline is attributed as the forehead. The spaces from Hair to Eyebrow, Eyebrow to Nose and Nose to chin have all equal distance. But notice, when you draw a portrait from another perspective it can change.
These Landmarks are good to find in Loomis Construction.
Art by Jenny
Every Human has a distinctive and special Face proportion. Look exactly at your Reference Picture, to figure the perfect position of the face parts out.
The Eyes
This method for drawing eyes is valuable as it provides a structured approach to capturing realistic proportions and details. Mastering it can enhance overall facial accuracy in your drawings. Draw the eyes with a stunning expression gives your Artwork a great fixing point. It can be the first thing you should see in a picture and from them explore the rest of the painting.
1. start with a ball for the hole eye and add the Iris inside, the position depending on in wich direction the person look.
2. add the outline outlines eyelid, the upper eyelid is drawn with three lines and the lower with two.
3. give your eyelid crease the same three lines as the upper eyelid, if you draw from a reference picture, look exactly on the details of the eyes
The steps 4 - 8 are shading your Eye
you can finish it also with Crosshatching lines, Watercolor, Goache or any Mediums you like to use.
TIP: When you draw the eyes, draw at the same time both eyes. Not finish one and then start with the other. This is more easier to get equal looking eyes.
The Nose
Drawing a nose in a 3/4 view can indeed be a challenge, but with attention to detail and practice, you can achieve a convincing result.
Here are some tips for drawing a nose in a 3/4 view:
Visualize the nose as basic forms. This helps in understanding the three-dimensional structure and how light interacts with it. Begin by lightly sketching the basic shapes of the nose. Consider the wedge shape of the nostrils and the cylindrical form of the bridge.
Place the nose in relation to other facial features. The 3/4 view means the nose will be slightly turned away, affecting its position and angle on the face.
Familiarize yourself with the anatomy of the nose, especially the cartilage, nostrils, and nasal bridge. This knowledge will guide you in capturing the details accurately.
Shadows are crucial for indicating the three-dimensionality of the nose. Observe how light falls on the nose and creates shadows, particularly on the side facing away from the light source.
Continuously check and adjust the proportions of the nose in relation to the rest of the face. Ensure that it fits harmoniously within the overall facial structure. This applies to all areas of your portrait sketching process.
Practice drawing the nose from various 3/4 angles to improve your understanding of its structure and appearance from different perspectives. A Sketchbook is for this a really helpful tool. You can see how you grow over time.
1. draw a ball for the tip of the nose
2. Draw a oval ball for the nostril area
3.add the outline of the nose and the nose hole
4. start with the first layer of shading, take time for this step to figure the accurate shading of the nose. It's helpful to know the anatomy of the nose. I use hatching lines to shade the darker parts and to know where I go with the rest of the shading process.
5-6 add more shadows
Pay attention to how light interacts with the different planes of the nose, creating highlights and shadows. This understanding adds depth and dimension to your drawing, making it more realistic.
The Mouth
Sketching the mouth can be intricate, but these tips can help you:
Begin by sketching basic shapes to outline the mouth—consider the overall shape of the lips and the opening of the mouth.
Lips have distinct features. Understand the upper and lower lip shapes, paying attention to their curvature, thickness, and how they relate to each other.
Observe the proportions of the mouth in relation to the rest of the face. Measure and compare the width and height of the mouth to other facial features.
Consider the placement of the mouth in relation to the nose, eyes, and chin. The mouth's position can vary based on facial expressions and angles.
Pay attention to how light interacts with the lips. Shadows and highlights can reveal the three-dimensional form of the mouth.
If drawing visible teeth, approach them with care. Suggest teeth rather than drawing each one individually.
1. draw two balls for the lower part of the lips, notice the left ball are longer then the right, this depends on the fact that we draw it in 3/4 view. The lips look on the left side smaller then on the right. This is the perspective you get in this view.
2. draw the upper part of the lips with this two oval balls, look like a heart
3. ad the outlines for your lips, the balls you draw will guide you
4. add light and shadows, look exactly at your reference picture for the perfect value for your painting
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