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Introduction to Brandlady.com |
Face to Face
P ortrait painting can be very rewarding. When painting portraits there are a few things to consider before putting brush to canvas. The shape of the head establishes individuality and nationality. This shape is basically egg-shaped, divided symmetrically to suit each unique and individual face. Even though both sides of the face are not identical, they are symmetrical. A true-to-life head measurement can be established by using the ‘span of the hand’ i.e. Index finger, tip of forehead, with the thumb placed on the chin. It is within the confines of this area we place the features. 1: The tip of the nose is halfway between the centre of face and chin. 2: The mouth is halfway between the nose and chin. 3: The eyes are on the centre line. 4: Ears are approximately the same length as the nose, and are placed between eyes and base of nose. 5: Corners of the mouth are in line with the pupils of the eyes. NOTE: Measurements of the face can be determined by the eye width. As you train your own eye, this method of measuring will become second nature to you. eye measurements The face is approximately five eye measurements across in the line of the eye. One eye measurement from the lower lid to the nostril. One eye measurement from the base of the nostril to the corners of the lips. One eye measurement from the corners of the lips to the jaw-line REMEMBER: the distance between the eyes measures the width of the eye. ‘The eyes have it’; they are a very movable feature, and often the most dominant. The eyes are encased in a socket and although round, only a portion of the eclipse of the eyeball is visible. The pupil is placed in the centre of the eyeball but just below the top lid as it enfolds the iris. It is most important to place the eye into surrounding shadow area so the eye does not look as though it is sitting on top of the canvas or paper but make sure it is recessed into the socket. The eyes of a child are the same measurement as an adult and remain the same into adulthood. This is the reason some children appear to have very large eyes in comparison to their face measurement. NOTE: Children’s portraiture is a lesson in itself. Mouth and ears The mouth is a very flexible feature and even when in repose, the shape is altered by the play of light. Usually the top lip is darker in tone as the bottom lip catches more light at the base of the lip. The ‘line’ between the lips is actually shadow and this is the most important part of the construction of the mouth as this ‘line’ interprets the mood and expression that is totally unique to the person. EARS: One mistake a student can make when drawing the ear is to portray it vertical and this is a no- no. It is placed on the side of the face and between the eye and nose and is slightly inclined (some more than others) once again unique to the individual features of the face. A shadow should always be placed down the side of the nose so it will look natural and stand in relief to the face and not sit flat on the paper or canvas. The nostril is actually a shadow and this should be indicated as such. Here we are speaking about ‘tones and middle tones’and not just an out line drawing. It is just as important to keep your features correctly aligned with a line drawing as it is with one that includes shadows and highlights of a face. NOSES: Come in all shapes and sizes, but suit the individual face. Pastel sketch. Shadows massed in and highlights rubbed out with a kneaded rubber. Details were then applied. B/W sketch 
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