Facial studies...

[NJHinesJr]

Mr. Juan,

Glad to see you working on improving your technique. I'd like to give a few suggestions.

First, don't ignore the two prior posts that state your obvious affinity for Michael Turner artwork. At the moment, your style is obviously influenced by the man, as is evident (especially) in the female face(s) in your image post. In order to break away from that (if that's your aim,) you must admit it to yourself what is fact about your work.

Second, Bruce Lee is on point with the face shapes. If you look and break down the female and male face you provided, you'll see that they have the same facial shape. It can be difficult at first to do this, instinctively, from years of drawing, that shape may be automatic to you when I day "Draw a face, Juan!" You may have to DELIBERATELY change it by thinking first and drawing second. Trust me, I still have to do it from time to time.

Third, when you look at facial reference, DO NOT DRAW IT. STUDY IT. Study noses (just look at different noses and visualize drawing the different shapes,) study eyes, mouths, lips, jaw structure, hair lines. Study common ground of all faces (what do all faces have in common.) The common ground of every face is more complex than you may think, yet critical for any situation involved in drawing faces.

Four. While I commend the fellows stressing facial expressions, at this point, viewing your work, get the basics down first. Expressions help define character, but if I lined up 30 faces (any number really) as if in a police lineup, where they are usually expressionless, you would see that all these "expressionless" faces have their own character. While expressions are important, it is not necessary to for the character of a face be present.

Finally. Improve your sketching. Once upon a time, I sketched alot like you do now. Loosen up. My sketches look "worse" than ever before, but they are far more effective. Tthe body is fluid. All is connected. You cannot draw an ear without taking into consideration the hairline, jaw, neck, cheeks and eyes. Get into the habit of unity in your sketches. Make them loose. Almost like contour drawing. The body flows. Your drawings can flow as well.

Hopefully this will help. Hope you got a decent chair.

Laytaz.

[AnthonyLombardi]

Juan the best advice i can give to you is to get a hand held mirror or have someone take a picture of your own face from different angles. Make alot of different faces . and just draw what you see. oh yeah and remember when laying out the figure no matter what position the head is all the parts are in the same places. when doing your understructure begin that way draw your center line and the lines for the mouth eyes and nose. Thou the direction of the head will change the position for all those parts remain in the same place in relation to the head and each other