Pencil whispers on paper's grace,
A portrait sketch, a fleeting trace.
Lines unfold, expressions find,
In every stroke, a captured mind.
In this exploration, we'll navigate the techniques for a good portrait sketch.
Whether you're a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, let's unravel the fascinating journey of capturing the human essence on a blank surface.
Loomis Method for Portrait Sketching
The Loomis Method, developed by American illustrator and art instructor Andrew Loomis, is a structured approach to portrait drawing. I will introduce you to the most widespread and effective method here. which has helped many artists before you, also me.
Many express appreciation for Loomis' instructional books and the impact they've had on artistic development. Artists often commend the clear and systematic approach Loomis provides for understanding anatomy, structure, and proportion in figure drawing and portraiture.
Artists frequently acknowledge the practicality and effectiveness of Loomis' teachings, especially for those learning to draw human figures and faces.
Some may mention how Loomis' methods have been foundational in their artistic education and how the principles laid out in his instructional books continue to influence their work.
Let's step into this wonderful practice.
The Basics
Drawing a Portrait is more than only a pretty face on paper. It will capture the soul of a person forever on a canvas. To capture a distinctive facial expression, is not a easy undertaking. You need more than this method for a stunning portrait. Anatomy also matter, just as the perfect skin tones or a great color palette. See this as a recipe for a Cake. You need all the ingredients for a tasty and outstanding cake.
You can read in another article more about the topic wich I mentioned above (anatomy, colortheory, colorcomposition).
5 fundamental steps for your portrait sketching
1. Start with a Circle. The size of the circle is crucial for the right position on paper. When you draw it to small, left, right or big, you lose your portrait on paper or your hole composition will be a disaster. Before you start think about the composition of your portrait.
2. add the horizontal lines for the eye, nose, chin. In the middle of these three, draw the center line. To ensure, you got the equal distance between the nose, eye, chin line.
3. add the jawline
4. add the line for the neck and shoulder.
5. The ears end at the lower part of the nose and starts at the eyebrow level. But it always depends on the position of the head. If you choose a reference picture from a person they hold is head frontal but a little higher, you would draw the ears lower.
This 5 steps looks easy and markeable. Right. In the examples above I show you a front view sketched portrait who bowed her head a little. When you want to draw your Portrait in different angles, you need to read another article of my portrait sketching tutorial.
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.
Art by Jenny
Divide the face into equal parts vertically and horizontally.
The major facial features (eyes, nose, and mouth) should align with these divisions. For example:
- Eyes: Place the eyes a little under the eyebrow line, I call this line the eyebrow line, in other examples they would call it eye line.
- Nose: Position the nose on the bottom of the circle
- Mouth: Align the mouth between the nose line and the chin line
Eye Spacing:
The space between the eyes is generally equal to the width of one eye. This helps maintain a natural look. But notice, every face ist unique and some people eyes are further apart then other.
Symmetry:
Aim for symmetry when placing features. If you're drawing a three-quarter or profile view, ensure that features align with their corresponding points on the other side of the face.
The right proportion of the face are crucial for a good portrait. Do you want to finish your portrait with color after the sketch, all proportion need to be on point. At this point it is helpful to take a break and look after a wile with a fresh eye on your portrait. This is for me a helpful tool to notice some mistakes.
Facial expression gives the portrait personality
The Eyes
Drawing the eyes is crucial for a good portrait drawing. Eyes are often considered the most expressive feature of the face. They convey emotions, personality, and mood, playing a central role in capturing the essence of the subject. The eyes naturally draw attention and serve as a focal point in a portrait. Viewers tend to connect with the eyes first, making them a key element for engagement. The subtle variations in the eyes, such as the shape, size, and positioning of the pupils, can convey a wide range of emotions. Mastering eye drawing allows an artist to communicate the subject's feelings effectively. When viewers can connect with the subject's eyes in a portrait, it creates a more intimate and personal experience. It establishes a connection between the viewer and the depicted individual. I often spend a significant amount of time refining the details of the eyes.
Drawing the eyes accurately enhances the impact of a portrait, making it more relatable, emotionally charged, and true to the individual being depicted. It is a skill that, when mastered, significantly contributes to the success of a portrait drawing.
1. Start with a Ball. This would be the hole eye, including this areas you don't see
2. add the Iris and pupil, depending on in wich direction you want to draw the eye
3. add a part of the lid of the eye, the upper part of the eye is in three lines divided, the lower part in two
4. add the rest parts of the eyelid, look closely at your reference picture to find out what shape your eye need to be.
5. add the eyebrow, you see the guidelines for a exactly position
6. shading, give your work of art more deep
Art by Jenny
Eye Painting with Jellygouache
The Nose
The nose plays also a significant role in defining the overall structure of the face. Its placement and shape contribute to the balance and symmetry of the features. Accurately rendering the nose is essential for achieving proportion and likeness in portraiture. The nose, along with the eyes and mouth, contributes to the distinct characteristics of an individual's face.
Drawing the nose with attention to light and shadow adds depth to the portrait, creating a three-dimensional appearance. Just like other facial features, the nose has unique characteristics that vary from person to person. Paying attention to these details helps capture individuality, contributing to a more authentic portait.
Art by Jenny
1. draw a cirlce, for the tip of the nose
2. draw two little cricle for nostrils
3. draw the outlines for the nose edges
4. locate the nose hole and the nostrils at the lower part of the three circles, use your reference picture for the perfect form, add your first shades
5. the last part is shading the nose with it looks more realistic.
The Mouth
The mouth is a crucial element for conveying a wide range of emotions. The way the lips are shaped, the positioning of the corners, and even the subtle details like dimples or wrinkles contribute to expressing the subject's mood and feelings. Its size, shape, and placement impact the overall proportion of the face. Rendering the mouth with attention to light and shadow adds depth to the portrait, creating a three-dimensional appearance.
1. start with three circle, in this example they were the same size, but when you want to draw thinner lips the circles can be smaller
2. draw the lines for the outer and inner part of your lips
3. add some folds
4. Give your lip light and shadows
Identify the direction of light in your drawing. Determine where the light hits the lips directly and where shadows are cast. Create a gradual transition from light to shadow. Lips have subtle gradations in tone. Add highlights to the areas where light directly hits the lips, typically along the center of the lower lip and the upper lip's bow.
Understand the anatomy of the lips. The upper lip often has a subtle shadow under the cupid's bow, while the lower lip might cast a shadow onto the chin.Employ a range of values from light to dark to capture the three-dimensional form of the lips. Darken the corners of the mouth and areas where the lips meet. Use smooth blending techniques, especially in areas where there's a transition between light and shadow.
Art by Jenny
Study references to understand how light interacts with lips in different situations.
Emphasize the highlight on the cupid's bow of the upper lip. This area often catches more light.
Consider how the lips interact with the surrounding facial features. Shadows from the nose or jawline can influence lip shading.
Experiment with different shading styles, such as cross-hatching, stippling, or blending, to find what works best for your desired effect.
Portrait Reference for Artist
You find on my Pinterest a Folder where I collect Reference Pictures for Portrait Sketching.
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