For the past few weeks we have been breaking down Facial Features to study the unique qualities each feature possesses. It is now time to use a “real life” example and put all the steps together, including adding, subtracting, or altering steps to fit the subject you chose to draw. The “Check Back Method” will be the most important tool you have to accurately depict your Subject. Trust your Eyes, not your Memory. Drawing “Portraits” is a process that takes a lot of Patience. It challenges your abilities as an Artist because your goal is not just to capture the image correctly but to capture the Essence of your Subject in the Photograph and their Emotions.
Step 1- Draw a basic outline of the Face. It will be modified later so don’t spend a lot of time trying to make it exact. The purpose is to block out an area that will be able to fit your whole Portrait on your piece of paper. Draw a very light guide line where your Eyes will be drawn. Make sure you look at the angle of your Portraits Eyes. Hold your paper up and compare it to your photograph to make sure your angle is correct.
Step 2- Measure the areas of your Eyes. The space in between the Eyes will always be the same measurement of the Eye. You should have 3 equal parts marked.
Step 3- Use the Check Back Method” to draw the shape of your Eyes. The Eyes will be an oval shape, not a circle. When drawing the outline include the Tear Duct within the preset measurement. Next, sketch in the Eyeball. The lines will be curved because the Eyeball is round. Look at your Portrait to make sure you are sketching them where they actually are, not where you think they are. Hold up your paper and compare to your photo.
Step 4- Draw in the Iris, Pupil, Reflection, Water Line and Tear Duct. Refer to the previous post “Eyes” to get a breakdown of the steps to follow when drawing an Eye. With one exception… Drawing the Iris. When you are drawing Eyes, using a photograph as a reference, you must first draw in the Eyeballs, seen in Step 3. Drawing the Iris can be a little tricky but if you follow these steps, you will be successful. To draw the Iris don’t look at the Iris, look at the shape the whites of the Eyes make on both sides. If you find you are having trouble correctly drawing that shape, the problem may be with the shape of your Eyes. They may be to long, short, round, etc., or the Tear Duct may be inaccurate. If you have to go back and correct the shape, make sure your corrections don’t alter the measurements of your Eyes. They still need to equally measure out in Thirds. Remember every Eye is different and has unique features unlike any other Eye. Pay attention to the emotional look of the Portrait. The Eyes will reflect that Emotion. Try to feel what they were feeling when the picture was taken, it will help you empathize with your subject and with practice you will capture Emotion in your Portraits.
Step 5- Fine tune the details of your Eyes. Use a Stump to make your lines, Pupil, Iris, and Ring, Starburst or other pattern look crisp. Use your Kneaded Eraser to “pop out” the reflection or to make the Iris glow. Remember the Cast Shadow coming from your upper Eyelid and shade the Eyeball in curved strokes using a very tight value study (darker on the edges going lighter as you go) to give it form. Hold your Art up to your photograph and compare the two. Don’t overlook or pass on minor adjustments or details. Have patience and take your time. Art is not about time. How long something takes to draw is meaningless. If time stands still… your in harmony with Creation.
Step 6- Begin shading in the Eye Lids. There is an upper and lower lid. Everything is done by shading and blending. Begin to establish the shadow created by the Bridge of the Nose. Compare your Drawing to the Photo and adjust. Sketch in the Eyebrows. *I haven’t included the Eyelashes yet. As much as you want to complete your eyes…Wait. It is easier to adjust values when the Eyelashes aren’t there. You want your Eyelashes to be dark, crisp and feathery.
Step 7- Begin the Nose, not by drawing it. A Nose is created by values. The only part of the nose that will be drawn is the Nostrils. Refer to my previous post on drawing the “Nose.” It is Very Important that you are using the “Check Back Method” when you are forming the nose. Make sure your Nose is not up to high, down to low, to big, to small, or crooked. Constantly hold your drawing up to compare with your photograph.
Step 8- Begin to create the Philtrum and the direction of the shadow on the face. When shading, don’t use the tip of your pencil. *Your pencil should be sharp at all times. Hold your pencil at an angle and shade in lightly using circles and shading as your technique. Blend with a stump and brush to soften your strokes. Use your kneaded eraser as much as your pencil to create shape and lightening values.
Ooops!!! Even I make mistakes!! No worries!! I don’t let it stop me or convince myself I can’t do it. I don’t erase it. I trim and modify until it passes the comparison test.
Step 9- Much better! Refer to the previous post drawing a “Mouth.” Use that Only as a guide. Everyone has unique features that make them who they are. Again use the “Check Back Method” when sketching in your Mouth and hold up and compare, compare, and compare.
Step 10- It is now time to lightly sketch in the shape of the Face, the Ears, and Hair. Begin establishing the direction of light and its shadow on the Face, as well as the highlights. Create the Chin by shadow. Hold up your drawing to make sure your Chin isn’t too small, large, or out of shape. At this point your Facial Features (Eyes, Nose, and Mouth) should be completed. You are now ready to draw the Eyelashes. Make sure you practice your strokes prior to drawing them in. Remember the changing direction the Eyelashes make as they go around the Eye. Really look at your photograph to depict their Eyelashes correctly. Don’t overdo it. Also remember the bottom Eyelashes begin at the Waterline, not the bottom line of your Eye. Look at your photograph, go slowly when you draw the Eyelashes.
Tip- “You Draw faster, if you Draw slower.” Confused? Let me explain. If you are drawing fast, you’re not using the “Check Back Method.” You will make mistakes, skip steps and then spend time trying to figure out why your Drawing looks off or completely wrong. Your frame of mind is not in a peaceful state, you begin to doubt your skills as an Artist, and the time you spend correcting your mistakes is not pleasant. So, going faster actually took longer and you’re no longer in a Creative Frame of Mind.
In Class 15- “Portraits” Putting All The Parts Together- Part 2 we will finish the Portrait and put the finishing touches on to create a Realistic Portrait with a magical spark, called Emotion.