LITERARTIES
  • Home
  • About
    • Karen L French
    • Dennis Hamley
    • Kay Jamieson
    • Alan Kestner
    • Kamal Lathar
    • Debrah Martin
    • Rosie Phipps
    • Ann Warren
  • Diary
    • Exhibitions Gallery
  • About Our Events
  • Blog
  • Media
  • Contact and Mailing List

TIPS ON DRAWING PORTRAITS

1/8/2022

0 Comments

 
by KAY JAMIESON
To most of us a portrait means a recognisable likeness.  We judge a portrait by how well it represents the subject - in looks, manner, character, etc.  For an artist this involves keen observation and careful measurement.  Is the face round or rectangular?  What is the distance from the top of the head to the chin compared with that from ear to ear?  Features may be beautifully drawn but if they’re in the wrong place the result is not pleasing.  In landscape or still life genres objects can be rearranged to suit the composition but not so in portraiture (unless you are Picasso!)
Picture
​Firstly, establish placement on the page, ie. Composition. Is the head in the centre or to one side, looking up or down?  If it’s to be a profile then perhaps more space is needed on the side the subject is facing.  Will the background be important?  Maybe some tone behind the head will help in producing a 3-D effect.  
Any emotions which are expressed will show in the face: sadness, joy, contemplation, smile or frown. Capturing these feelings will entail some concentrated study of anatomy, particularly around the eyes and mouth. ​
Basic measurements which help to establish placement of the features. The width of an average face equals approximately two thirds the length, but of course this will vary according to the individual.

​Once the shape of the face is outlined with vertical centre line and horizontal halfway measurements marked, divide into three sections, the first line indicating eyebrows, the second line the end of the nose.  Between the top third and halfway lines is the position of the eyes.  The lower third is divided into three to indicate mouth and chin.  Ears are generally situated between the brow line and tip of the nose in a frontal view.

Picture
Picture

Lastly, practice, practice and practice some more.


I hope my portrait drawing tips help you. 
Have fun!

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    LiterArties, people who embrace, explore and capture their creativity in many ways.

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All
    Abstract Art
    Alan Kestner
    Ann Warren
    Anthology
    Art
    Art Insights
    Art Process
    Artweeks Oxfordshire
    Auction
    Author
    Biographical Information
    Book Release
    Capturing Our Creativity
    Colours
    Creative
    Creativity
    Deborah Martin
    Dennis Hamley
    Emotional Experience
    Exhibition
    Figurative
    Gallery
    Giclee Prints
    Images
    Kamal Lathar
    Karen L French
    Kay Jamieson
    Landscape
    LiterArties
    Maeve Bayton
    Music
    Niave
    Oxford
    Painting Technique
    Poetry
    Pop-up Gallery
    Portraits
    Recommended Reads
    Rosie Phipps
    Self Help
    Sound
    Summertown
    The Hare Trilogy
    THIRTYEIGHT Cafe
    Vision
    Wise Dog Next Door
    Words
    Writers In Oxford
    Writing
    Writing For Children

    RSS Feed

We would love to hear from you

  • Home
  • About
    • Karen L French
    • Dennis Hamley
    • Kay Jamieson
    • Alan Kestner
    • Kamal Lathar
    • Debrah Martin
    • Rosie Phipps
    • Ann Warren
  • Diary
    • Exhibitions Gallery
  • About Our Events
  • Blog
  • Media
  • Contact and Mailing List