Faces
We've learned about the skeletal structure, so now let's put some meat on those bones! We will start with the how-tos of drawing the face. Facial features have their own rules of proportion. These will help guide us. Then, there are tips and tricks for drawing each of the features, the hair and all the details. We will practice drawing the same face together, then you will end the unit by creating your own self-portrait. Drawing the face can be overwhelming, but we will break eveything down into easy steps. Let's practice!
Step 1. Facial Proportion (15 points)
Let's start by learning about facial proportion. Remember, these are not rules written in stone...more like guidelines to help you along. Everyone is different. No one is perfectly proportional! Also, obviously, there is a lot of variations within the human population, so again, these are just general guidelines.
1. Let's draw a simplified face to learn about facial proportion.
Watch the video and follow along in your sketchbook. (It's actually a really great video, but she rushes through her measurements a bit. So if it gets confusing, make sure you pause the video and do your best to match your lines to hers. I can help you with this. But if it's too much for you, follow the steps in the image below the video.)
Alternative Directions:
Extra Reference Pictures: Side View
*CHECK IN!!! - Done with Step 1? Great! Now come show me for points!!*
Step 2. Drawing the Face (40 points)
Now that we have an understanding of basic facial proportion, let's practice adding more detail to the face. We will all draw the same face (the lovely Rihanna). This can seem overwhelming, but we will break it down into small steps, and learn the "how-tos" of drawing each seperate feature. Watch all the videos and follow along in your sketchbooks... FYI A larger version of this picture is available on the resource page, and I have some print outs available as well if you prefer.
1. First thing we should do is set up our paper with a rough sketch of the shape of the face and some proportion guidelines. We will figure out the placement of her features as well. This is still just in sketching phase. We don't need to commit to anything yet! Watch the video and follow along...
2. Next we need to fix our sketch a little. Let's look at our picture and change some of the generic shapes we made to make them more accurate. We will also check our feature placement.
3. Let's start to add detail to the eyes. Here is where it gets a bit serious. We have to commit to where we place the eyes. Every thing else will be moved or fixed to line up with the eyes. The reason for this is that the eyes are the most complicated and the most important feature. Getting them right makes the drawing! -no pressure- Watch the video and follow along...
Quick Time Lapse of me finishing the left eye.
Yes, I fixed the right eye to look a little more like the picture. (It's hard to demo and get it to look right!)
Notice that I use the other eye to measure distances and sizes. We want them to be as similar as possible.
I like to start with the eyes because they are the hardest part. Once we get them right, we can fix everything else to fit them...
4. Now let's figure out how to draw the nose...
5. Lips....(the video got cut off so it's in two parts now).
Part One:
Part Two:
6. Hair, ears and finishing touches like the shape of the
face and the shading in the face, neck and shoulders.
Part
One:
Part
Two:
Quick Time Lapse of me finishing the skin tone.
Blend, blend, blend! Watch out for making the shading look like a beard.
7. Last video I swear....How to draw her hair.
*CHECK IN!!! - Done with Step 2? Great! Now come show me for points!!*
Step 3. Frida Inspired Self Portrait (70 points)
Drawing or painting self portraits is a long standing tradition in the art world. There are many artists who do nothing but self portraits. For this assignment we will be looking at the work of one of these artists, and drawing in her style. By now you should have had your picture taken. We will use a print out of this picture to work from. You will learn to use "the grid method" to blow up your image onto a larger piece of paper, then you will add details associated with the work of Frida Khalo. Let's start by learning a bit about her. Watch the video for some background info...
1. Check out my Powerpoint on Frida. Also, there is great movie about her life called, "Frida" with Selma Hayak. If you're old enough (naughty content) I highly recommend it.
2. Time for choices! Your drawings are required to have an animal and a natural background...So what animal and background will you choose? What is your favorite animal? Do you have a pet you want to include? What about choosing an animal that symbolizes a quality you admire? (ex. lion = strength, owl = wisdom) Now for the background, what is your favorite natural setting? Would you rather go to the beach, the woods, the mountains, etc. Once you decide, grab some reference pictures for your animal and background.
3. Time for thumbnails. These can be really rough, you just need to decide the placement of your animal, and how to include your background. (Try to pick reference pictures that you can use without any need to alter them). See the example on the left...I started with a very simple sketch of myself, then on the right...I added some animals and backgrounds. Just a note about the background: try not to have a tree growing out of your
head, or the horizon coming out of your ears!
Ideas:
Bird on my shoulder in the woods.
Octopus peeking over my shoulder on the beach.
Heron in the distance by a lake.
My dog in my arms with the mountains in the background.
Does the backround need to match the animal?
NOPE
4. Now that you have a plan, lets learn about the "grid method." This is a technique for taking small images and blowing them up to a large drawing. We'll start by putting a grid across your photo. (Remember when I took your picture? I have them all printed out) Luckily, I've made a stencil for this first step, so it's really easy.
Grab your photo, a stencil, a ruler and a pencil...
5. Watch the video to learn how to set up your photo grid...It will end up looking like the example on the right:
6. Now watch the video on how to set up your large paper:
We will be making a grid with 1 1/2 inch x 1 1/2 inch squares. You can you a yard stick to make the lines. Remember to do your grid VERY LIGHTLY!
The finished product should look like the picture on the right:
7. Time to get started! Now you can use your grids as a reference to start transfering your drawings. This should make things MUCH easier. You can watch the video for how to get started.
Remember:
Start with a simple, light outline.
If you have chosen to draw your animal either on or around you, then sketch it in next.
Erase out the numbers and guidelines before adding value.
Add VALUE and TEXTURE!!
Add background last.
8. Tips for Drawing hair: This is a nice, simplified tutorial.
*CHECK IN!!! - Done with Step 3? Great! Now come show me for points!!*
----You are now ready for STUDY DRAWING 7: You can choose from any of the promts on the list now. Remember that I expect full value & texture in all your work from now on----
Take some time to work on this and turn it in at your own time.
You have reached the end of Unit 8