Portrait - Facial anatomy

This portrait was completed in around 45 minutes using conte crayons on A3 paper, and it represents a study of facial anatomy and basic portraiture techniques.

Visible construction lines helped with establishing the planning on paper of the drawing, and capturing the basic characteristics of the subject's head. Obvious errors were done during the measuring stage; the general proportions of the head seem slightly off such as the forehead being smaller than it should be compared to the rest of the face. The planes of the face were mapped out nicely however, and this ensures a solid sense of perspective and depth. Hair was observed in a subtle way using an impressionistic approach, which worked well for this drawing.

Shading helps enhance the depth of the image, and it also offers definition to small details of the face. One example of an area in which shading gives shape and form to the portrait is the neck, which displays good use of this technique. There should have been more attention paid to the shading of the nose however, as that area seems flat because of the lack of depth.