PROPORTIONS OF THE HEAD

BEGINNING TO DRAW PORTRAITS

PERFECT PROPORTIONS
The proportions of a portrait is based on an Idealized set of proportions represented in the Ancient Greek Sculptures.
They have been adopted as a guide for the mechanics of portrait drawing.

Not everyone fits the standard guidelines perfectly, but they are very close.

MASTERS LIKE DA VINCI STUDIED PROPORTIONS ALMOST OBSESSIVELY.

From the front: 2/3 of its height

From the side: 7/8 of its height

The face is divided into 4 quarters.

The eyes are about halfway down the face, and has equal distances of 1/5 including the width of the eye and the edges of the nose.

From the center, a triangle will establish the general width of the mouth. You can also use the pupils to locate the sides.

Start with an oval

Divide it in half

Divide the bottom part in half

Divide it in half vertically

Eye line Nose line

EYES

On the first line.. Divide into 5 equal parts

Divide the bottom third in half

Eye line Nose line mouth line

LIPS

2nd and 4th section: Draw lines from the center down to the mouth line.

NOSE

From the edges of those same sections: Draw lines down to the nose line.

EARS

Ear starts from eyeline and ends at nose-line

NECK

Neck starts from the base of the ear and slants inward

PROPORTIONS ARE JUST THE BEGINNING...

SHADING/VALUE
IS WHAT MAKES A PORTRAIT LOOK

REALISTIC.