Learning to Draw Faces

Course: Drawing One

Fruitport High School
Instructor Dawn Jacobson

Proportions of the Face and Eye, c.

1489 Leonardo DaVinci

Appreciation of the art

forms from different
cultures
Identify art works from
various periods of history
The visual Arts have played
a significant role in the
development of cultures
throughout the world

David is a masterpiece of
Renaissance sculpture created
between 1501 and 1504 by
Michelangelo. It is considered the
ideal human proportion.

WHY DID SOMEONE AS

AWESOME AS MIKE
WANT TO STUDY
ANCIENT SCULPTURE?

The proportions of a portrait were based on

an Idealized set of proportions represented
in the Ancient Greek Sculptures.
Since then, they have been adopted as a guide for
the mechanics of portrait drawing that we use today.

So to start us out; we will take a brief look

back to discover where this idealized
set of proportions originated.

1st Greek Archaic

2nd Greek Classical
3rd Greek Hellenistic

Earliest (625-480 BC)

Examine this
figure
sculpture:
WHAT DO YOU THINK
some Characteristics
of this periods figures
might be?
Peplos Kore, about 530 BC,
Marble, 4` high. Acropolis
Museum, Athens

Earliest (625-480 BC)

Characteristics:

They were becoming more natural

Peplos Kore, about 530 BC,

Marble, 4` high. Acropolis
Museum, Athens

and showing a developing

understanding of the body,
specifically the musculature and the
skin.
Freestanding
Frontal stance
Left foot forward
Clenched fists
Still looking
Puppet-like Pose
Idealized

Earliest (625-480 BC)

Characteristics:

Originally were painted

to emphasize natural
appearance
Illustrates the Archaic
Smile (the sign of life)
Statues of men "kouros"
(KOOR-ohs) which
means "boy"
They called statues of
girls "kore" (CORE-eh)
which means "girl"
Acropolis Kore, c. 520-510 BCE

 The Classical period saw changes in

both the style and function of
sculpture.
Poses became more naturalistic
EXAMPLE Athena

Athena, by Myron
Museum in Frankford Germany

Gown gathers at the waist

and hangs in natural-looking
folds, suggest the presence
of a real body underneath.
Form and Posture of a real
woman
Demonstrates the classical
contrapposta position

 Greek artists began to study human movement and

anatomy
The technical skill of Greek sculptors in poses
greatly increased.

(Hestia, Dione, and Aphrodite?) (Possibly the three fates) (The Elgin Marbles) from
the East pediment of the east pediment of the Parthenon

Nike of Samothrace
(about 200 BC)

More dramatic sense of

movement and form

Hellenistic art occurred about

the time of Jesus

Nike of Samothrace
(about 200 BC)
Symbol of Winged Victory, her
great wings spread wide as she
lands on the prow of a ship.

The force of the wind whips the

drapery into wonderfully
animated folds.

Sweeping and energetic

forward movement

During the reign of Alexander

the Great
Excessive theatrical emotion
Within the space around the
sculpture is treated as an
extension of the viewers
space.
It invites us to walk around it.

Today most of us know that

there is no such thing as a
perfect human being, but
the ancient
Greeks had a different idea.
They believed that perfection
of mind and character must
be contained in a perfect
body.
As a result, Greek figures are
idealized appearing heroic,
athletic and well
proportioned.

The Discus Thrower

Perfect but Human

Idealism has to do with

the concept of perfection.

Augustus of Prima Porta, 1st century CE

Humanism (Realism):
Realism / Humanism is
defined as a view of life
based on nature, dignity,
and interest of people
(Rather than superstitions
like the Egyptians.)

Michelangelo already a famous artist of his

time was hired to create this biblical image and
studied Greek sculpture. He wanted his work to
be perfect a yet real. (Idealism and Humanism)
In his quest he sought to learn as much as he
could about the human figure though sculpture
from the Greeks.
David is a 17.0 ft marble statue of a standing
nude male. This image was a symbol of
strength and youthful beauty. The twist of his
body effectively conveys to the viewer the
feeling that he is in motion, an impression
heightened with contrapposto

statue from Italy, 3rd to 1st

century BCE, bronze

Contrappostois
anItalianterm that
means counterpose. It is
used in the visual Artsto
describe a human figure
standing with most of its
weight on one foot so
that its shoulders and
arms twist off-axis from
the hips and legs.

statue from Italy, 3rd to 1st

century BCE, bronze

Idealism is how
students want to draw
the human form.
Humanism is what we
need to try to achieve
in our drawing.
Contrapposto is a shift
of weight of the human
form we must recreate
to make our drawing
look more realistic.

Roman Sculpture was

much different than Greek.
The Romans were known
for making a bust of a
famous figure. (This is a
head and shoulder
sculpture)
Roman Realism illustrated
the real human
characteristics of
individuals.
These are not idealized
puppets of the Archaic and
Classical Greek periods.

Roman Busts convey what

we really look like.
They didnt hide if the
famous figure they were
sculpting was old, had big
ears or over weight.
Roman Realisim focuses on
what they actually looked
like.
Your job is to use the
Idealized proportions to
draw your portrait but to
include the Realism
elements that make you
who you are aim for the
Roman Realism

Archaic
Sculptures

Provides a sense of life quality.

A picture
of a person
is always
called a
portrait.

The proportions of a portrait is based on an Idealized

set of proportions represented in the Ancient Greek
Sculptures.

Standards:
1.Classify art according to
subject matter.
2.Artists have borrowed ideas
from works of past artists.
3.Art Reflects, records and
influences history.
4.Sequential planning may be
necessary for the production of
complex art forms.

Therefore, to draw a portrait memorize these idealized

proportions in order to set up the mechanics of your
portrait.

Draw an oval.

EYES
Divide in half.

NOSE
Divide the
bottom in half
again.

Divide in
half
vertically.

EYE
PLACEMENT
On the eye line
divide length
into 5 equal
parts.

MOUTH
Place this line
between the nose
line and the
bottom of the
oval.

CHIN
This is just a
suggestion for
a minimal
amount of
shading for
the chin.

WIDTH OF MOUTH
The width of the
mouth is as wide as the
center points of the
pupils of the eyes.

NOSE WIDTH
The width of the end
of the nose is as wide
as the space between
the eyes.

EARS
The ear placement
is between the eye
line and the nose
line.

NECK
The neck begins at
the base of the ear
and slants inwards.

Draw a self-portrait in pencil starting

with the mechanics of the proportions
of a portrait that is rendered in such a
way that is reflects the real you.

Using the steps in Proportions of a

Portrait, lightly draw the guidelines on
your drawing paper.

Then using a frontal photocopy of a

photo of you, notice the variation that
must be made in order to render your
portrait as your likeness.

Draw your likeness in

contour lines.
At this point a teacher /
student critique is required.
Bring your artwork and
come see me.

Standards
1.Students should be able to create a contour
drawing.
2.Students should discuss visual perceptions
about their work.

Then.Shade your portrait using plenty of

values to give you a rich value drawing that
includes black and white and at least 4 values
in between. You may also use a mirror to
check the values and details of your likeness.

Standards
1.Students should be able to use
techniques as varied line, texture,
with shading to show light and
value.

When you are finished turn in your project for

evaluation with the following:
Teacher Rubric (fill in your name, class
period and the date that you turned in your
project.
Self-Assessment /Peer-Assessment
(Completing this is included your final rubric
assessment.)

Standards
1.Students should be able to demonstrate a willingness to
improve art skills.
2.Develop a respect and appreciation for ideas and creations of
others.

Expressionistic Self Portrait in Pastel

Go to the studio Backdrop and
take several SELFIES.
Crop a cool interesting up close
view.
Use lighting to enhance your
composition.
Consider Point of View as you
hold the camera.
Try a view high, at eye level and
low.
Which is better?

Expressionistic Self Portrait in Pastel

Complete a oil pastel exercise to figure out how
the media works.
Select a toned paper.
Redraw your selfie.
Now consider how you want to depict yourself?
Realistic or Expressionistic?
Standards
1.An awareness that artists generate and
express ideas according to their
personalities and experiences.
2.Students should be able to look at works
and discern how it makes the viewer feel
and why.