The portrait

Here is a new subject from Alain SERRUYA, an artist exhibiting on this website. He is also a painting teacher in Fontenay-sous-bois (FRANCE).
For this first lesson, he proposes to explain us his simple method to draw a woman portrait.

Step I

First of all start drawing an ovoid form that will provide the location of the head. Then sketch the axis of the face and divide the face into three equal parts that will represent the space of the forehead, eyes and chin.

As you can see on the drawing, specify the location of the lines representing the basis of the forehead, eyebrows, the basis of the nose and the one of the chin.

Step II

Notice that the space between the two eyes corresponds to the width of an eye. The eyebrows and the eyes occupy about half the space (eyes - nose).

The edges of the nostrils are located in the corner line of the eye. The mouth is located in the first part of the space (mouth - chin). The corner of the mouth is located in the middle line of the pupil.

Step III

Notice the location of the shadows under the eyebrows as well as the exterior corner of the eye, to increase the depth of the look. The result is similar for the small details of the reflection of the pupil.

Look at the shadows on the nose that give the relief impression and the one under the nostril. The mouth is enhanced thanks to the shadows around this one and on the lips.

You will give the final key while affixing the shadows of the cheeks and chin. Note that the chin is put forward by the shadows below. Finish by tracing the hair. Do not hesitate to draw groups of wicks that will give a more realistic aspect.

Step IV

Congratulations, you have finished the exercise. Redo it several times without giving up and using this guide less and less...