D R AW I N G P R O G R A M

Head Drawing Phase I:

Basic Head Construction—Skull

OVERVIEW
What you will learn: In the following tutorials we will attempt to start learning how to draw the human
skull from the three key positions. This is a mere jumping off point for all of you. I have provided some
extra pages of photos of the skull from various positions. After drawing from the ones done on the videos,
I would sketch these others with the Conté as well as a ballpoint pen. Don’t worry about the anatomical
names yet. We will revisit the skull during the anatomy phases. This will give you another opportunity to
explore the skull further. Remember, after working with these for awhile, see if you can sketch them from
memory.

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Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

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1
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

ASSIGNMENT 2: BASIC HEAD CONSTRUCTION–SKULL

This assignment will introduce you to the skull. You will draw the skull from three different angles:
profile view, front view, and three-quarter view.

Part 1: Watch the skull videos demonstrating the various head angles.

Part 2: 1) Start with the profile view first. Use Jeff’s drawing as your reference, and draw it the best
you can. Remember your basic head construction. It applies to the skull as well.

2) Next, draw the front view. Again, use Jeff’s drawing as your reference. Try to align the
features. The front view is difficult. Don’t hesitate to draw this more than once.

3) Now, attempt the three-quarter view. You’ll find that this is a much easier view to draw
especially after completing the first two views. Emulate Jeff’s drawing the best you can.

Part 3: 1) Draw the profile view of the skull this time using the photo reference. Try to draw the skull
in the same manner Jeff did. Focus on clean line work and accuracy.

2) Do the same for the front view. Again, the front view is difficult. Pay attention to the align-
ment of the features. As before, cleanliness and accuracy are key. In addition, pay attention
to shadow mapping.

3) The three-quarter view is next. Take some time to analyze the photo reference before you
draw it. This will be at least your sixth skull drawing. Try to make this one great. Don’t psych
yourself out, but consider uploading this drawing to the critique area.

Part 4: Draw the additional drawing and photo reference. The more you draw the skull from different
angles and commit it to memory the better. This isn’t accomplished with one day’s worth of
study but many days of repeated study and drawings over a period of time.

The key is not becoming overwhelmed. Try a few skulls from memory. If you can’t draw them
from memory, don’t worry about it. You just need to draw them more. You won’t be able to
draw the skull from every angle from memory on the first day, week, or even month.

Do the best you can, and then move on to the next lesson. We will be coming back to the skull
again in later phases of head drawing.

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 3
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

D R AW I N G R E F E R E N C E — S K U L L P R O F I L E

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 4
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

Remember that this is the first phase of head drawing. We are attempting to work on familiarization of the
bones, various angles, and eccentricities that make up the various head positions. Try to refrain from getting
too heavily involved in rendering. There will be plenty of that to come. You will need to repeat these lessons
many times to know the visual memory to strengthen.

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 5
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

D R AW I N G R E F E R E N C E — S K U L L F R O N T

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 6
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

It is highly recommended that the student draw from a skull cast or reproduction from all angles of rotation.
Use my drawing tutorials as well as reference pages to draw these various angles. After familiarizing yourself
with the basic angles, try sketching them from memory.

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 7
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

DRAW I N G R E F E R E N C E — S K U L L T H R E E - Q U A RT E R

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 8
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

Drawing the skull can take some getting used to. Remember to refer back to the video when needed. The
human skull is one of the most interesting parts of the body to explore. Proof of this can be seen throughout
history by taking note of the countless works in which the skull plays a significant role. For portrait artists,
the skull’s boney protuberances help the artist navigate the more subtle topography of the facial muscles and
features. Stick in there, and continue to return to the skull as you advance to higher levels of portraiture.

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 9
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 10
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

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Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 11
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

S K U L L D R AW I N G — P R O F I L E

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 12
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

S K U L L D R AW I N G — T H R E E - Q U A RT E R

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 13
 D R AW I N G P R O G R A M
Head Drawing Phase I:
Basic Head Construction—Skull

Practice sketch page.

This page was done
using a simple ball-
point pen. This type
of sketching is a
great way to exercise
freehand placement.
Because each line
must be put down
deliberately, it will
help to cultivate a
spontaneous yet
accurate eye.

Preserving the Traditions of the Masters

© Watts Atelier of the Arts, LLC, 2013 www.wattsatelier.com 14