I'll guide you through drawing a face from various angles. I decided to create this after losing three games in a row and needing a new purpose. Let’s dive right in!
We'll start with two different head styles: one realistic and one with anime proportions. To get started, draw a simple circle for the head. If drawing a perfect circle is challenging, don’t worry—it only needs to be close to round. The next step involves adding a crosshair to the circle, which will help determine the direction the head is facing.
This crosshair represents the centerline and the plane of the face.
Think of the circle as a ball, not just a flat circle. Imagine crawling around the surface of the ball to understand its 3D nature. This visualization helps with perspective and structure. Drawing a flat plane on the side of the ball will give you a sense of the head’s profile. This plane is like the flat part of your head when you touch the side.
To create a more realistic head, draw a vertical line from the top of the circle downwards to determine where the chin will be. The chin’s position can vary based on the character’s design, so there’s flexibility. For a generic head, place the chin roughly halfway down the circle’s height.
Next, connect this chin point with the sides of the circle to form the jawline. This will give you a basic head shape. For more realistic proportions, remember the following: the forehead area starts at the brow line, which slightly curves inward, while the cheeks curve outward and then back in towards the chin.
This zigzag pattern creates a more lifelike structure.
Add the ears by aligning them with the brow line. The top of the ear generally matches the height of the eyebrows. Don’t forget to draw the neck, which should connect smoothly from the jawline. The neck can be imagined as a simple cylinder connecting the head to the body.
Repeat these steps for different angles. For a head in profile view, adjust the circle to represent the side view and draw the cross lines accordingly.
For heads looking up or down, adjust the horizontal cross line to curve upwards or downwards, respectively. This adjustment affects the spacing between facial features due to perspective changes.
When placing facial features, start with the eyebrow line. Draw the eyes below this line, using simple circles to represent them. This approach helps in getting the proportions right without committing to detailed features right away. The nose typically starts from the eye level and extends halfway down to the chin.
The mouth is placed halfway between the nose and chin.
For anime-style heads, adjust the proportions to reflect the shorter, exaggerated facial features. Apply the same principle of the zigzag pattern for drawing the face structure, including the brow ridge, cheekbones, and chin.
One important detail often overlooked is the bottom plane connecting the jaw to the neck. This plane is crucial for a realistic appearance, so avoid drawing a straight line from the jaw to the neck.
Instead, use the plane to show the transition between these areas. This technique helps avoid awkward lines and provides a more natural look.
By practicing these techniques and paying attention to the structure and proportions, you’ll be able to draw faces from any angle with confidence. Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to review the steps as needed. Happy drawing!
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