How to Draw a Portrait in Three

Quarter View, Part 2

Drawing Tips

By Vladimir London in Art Tutorials > Drawing Tips

In my previous article, I explained how to start a three quarter view

portrait drawing based on classical proportions. (If you haven’t yet
read that article, I encourage you to go back and read it before
continuing on.)

Now, let’s continue working through the portrait-drawing process:

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6. Locating the eyebrow edge

The eyebrow’s outside edge is an important mark of the head. This

virtual line marks a division of the head’s two visible planes,
separating the front (i.e., the face) from the side of the head. It also
serves as a border between tonal values of light and shadow.

The eyebrow’s edge location depends on your angle of view, so it

has to be measured on the model by comparing distances “A” and
“B” seen below.
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 Later on, this edge will also help us to determine the position of the
ear, so it’s very important to measure and mark correctly. After all, if
you place the edge of the eyebrow too far to the side, the face will be
wide and distorted. If placed too close in, the face will be too narrow.

NOTE: The best way to measure distances for a drawing is using

your pencil. For a recap on how to do that, read this article at the
Drawing Academy.
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 7. Defining the contours of the face

Contours of the face are lines that help to define portrait’s likeness.
These lines are unique to each individual, the angles of which must
be measured as you study the model.

In the drawing below, I’ve marked the contours of my own model’s

cheekbones and jawlines. Do the same on your own paper, based on
your model’s features, and you’ll see the shape of your model’s head
begin to appear.
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 8. Indicating the top edge of the ear

Unlike the facial contours mentioned in the previous step, the

location of the top edge of the ear is universal for all people and
portraits: it’s on the same level as the eyebrows line.
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 To mark the top of the ear, simply extend the eyebrow line
horizontally towards backside of the head.

9. Bonus tips for placing the ear correctly

At the Drawing Academy I often see (or am asked to critique) portrait

drawings that have one common mistake—a miss-located ear. To
avoid this mistake in your own drawings, here are a few additional
rules:
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 • The top of an ear is on the same level as the line of eyebrows.

• The bottom edge of an ear is on the same level as the base of the
nose.

• The distances from the edge of the eyebrow to the ear, and from
the edge of the eyebrows to the middle of the face should be equal
(marked with the letter “C” in green below). When the head is viewed
in perspective, these distances will be foreshortened, but otherwise
it’s the same distance from the hair-root to the eyebrows line, the
eyebrows to the base of the nose, and the base of the nose to the
chin (all marked with the letter “C” in red).

• The front “line” where the ear connects to the head is not vertical,
but tilted backward (see the blue line below).
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 10. Placing the pit of the neck

Another common mistake I see is when a student forgets about the

neck during the early stages of a drawing, and simply draws it in as
an afterthought when the head is fully drawn. This is unfortunate,
since it’s almost impossible to draw believable looking portraits from
life (or your imagination) without proper knowledge how the head
connects to the shoulders via the neck.
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 So to finish up today’s tutorial, let’s indicate that very important
landmark of any portrait: the pit of the neck.

It is located between the two collarbones just above the breastbone,

and is the same distance below the chin as one-third proportion of
the face (marked with “C” in red).

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series so far. . . keep practicing, and make
sure to go on to Part 3 of this series as well!
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 Portrait drawing expert Vladimir London is a published author and
founder of the Drawing Academy, an online class for learning
traditional drawing techniques from home—make sure to click
through for full tutorials, drawing tips, and more!

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