Tips on Pencil Portrait Sketching - The Side Pose
A interesting thing about drawing the profile view is that novices find it much easier than the other poses. Yet, the advanced artist can find the side view quite challenging.
For the advanced artist the test lies in the struggle to affect a 3-dimensional sculptured look.
Looking at the construct in the profile view note how the head is broken down into straight lines. Using these architectonic lines conveys a firmness of form.
In the start, you should keep the forms plain. Also at this stage, do not place all the profiled features. There are 2 reasons for this:
1. It is very likely that even the most gifted artist will be off, and
2. Once a line is drawn the language center of your brain will consider that relationship as right one. Therefore, it will look right to you but everyone else will see the mistake.
There is a superior way. You begin with striking the construct using architectonically straight lines. The primary concerns are fixing the general proportions and form correctly. At a more advanced level you should also consider rhythm and flow.
Instead of right away incorporating the nose into the construct you should use the facial angle, i.e., the line from the forehead to the chin that breaks at the bottom of the nose. The landmark reference for the bottom of the nose is the tiny ledge-like bump.
A plumb-bob is an excellent instrument for accurately placing the bottom of the nose. A plumb-bob is a length of thread (preferably black carpet thread) that has a weight attached to it. The plumb-bob is made use of to verify vertical alignments (when working with life models) and their relationships to that vertical line. The vertical line is called the plumb-line.
Aligning the plumb-line to the chin allows you more accurately to see the relation of brow to chin. The brow is set back from the chin. Note that the entire region of chin and mouth is called the "muzzle".
Having verified that the initial construct and facial angle are right you can now continue with positioning the facial proportions, primary anatomical landmarks, and the hair-line. So, at this stage do not even think about drawing the complete nose. Rendering the nose at this stage is a sure remedy for disaster. The angle of the nose and the creation of the tip require a high degree of accuracy.
Instead, begin to lay down the general light/dark pattern.
The lights are taken out using a putty eraser. The look we are seeking is that of a ghost image. That means, above all, not to add details. Also, work from the general to the specific.
Once the general light/dark pattern is drawn then the profiled features can be done. making use of a very sharp pencil you can work upwards from the chin to the forehead carefully observing the form. As you sketch mutter the anatomical terms of each feature that you draw. You would be amazed at how that clarifyies the sketching process. Having an understanding of the facial anatomy will set your portrait sketching miles ahead of those who do not.
The end of the nose, particularly, demands anatomical reconstruction to get it right.
A common error novices make with the profile view is placing the eye too far forward. The eye sockets are recessed quite significantly into the head. If you drop a plumb-line from the inside corner of the eye you will see that the eye aligns itself with the corner of the mouth.
Further rendering and hatching values are accomplished with 2H and 4H pencils. Choosing how far you want to take your drawing is an creative decision you have to make yourself. If you wish, you can leave the portrait somewhat unrefined.
In conclusion, sketching the profile view involves the same general ideas that apply to any view. In this case, the construct is particularly major. The major thing to remember is not to place the actual complete features of the head too early in the process.
Download my brand new No Cost Pencil Portrait Sketching Course here: Pencil Portrait Sketching Course. Remi Engels is a practicing pencil portrait draftsman and oil painter and skilled drawing instructor. See his work at Pencil Portraits by Remi: http://www.remipencilportraits.com Visit Tips on Pencil Portrait Drawing - The Side View.