A strange thing about drawing the profile view is that beginners find it much easier than the other views. Yet, the advanced draftsperson can find the side view quite demanding.

For the advanced draftsperson the challenge lies in the struggle to affect a 3-dimensional sculptured quality.

Looking at the arabesque in the profile view note how the head is broken down into straight lines. Using these architectonic lines expresses a firmness of shape.

At first, you should keep the shapes plain. Also at this stage, do not draw all the profiled features. There are 2 reasons for this:

1. It is very likely that even the most gifted draftsperson will be off, and

2. Once a line is established the language center of your brain will consider that relationship as right one. Therefore, it will look right to you but everyone else will see the error.

There is a better way. You begin with striking the arabesque using architectonically straight lines. The chief worries are putting in place the general proportions and shape properly. At a more advanced level you should also consider rhythm and flow.

Instead of at once including the nose into the arabesque you should make use of the facial angle, i.e., the line from the forehead to the chin that breaks at the bottom of the nose. The signpost reference for the bottom of the nose is the tiny ledge-like protrusion.

A plumb-bob is an superb device for accurately placing the bottom of the nose. A plumb-bob is a length of thread (preferably black carpet thread) that has a weight attached to it. The plumb-bob is made use of to check vertical alignments (when working with life models) and their relationships to that vertical line. The vertical line is referred to as the plumb-line.

Aligning the plumb-line to the chin allows you more correctly to see the relation of brow to chin. The brow is set back from the chin. By the way, the entire area of chin and mouth is referred to as the “muzzle”.

Having confirmed that the initial arabesque and facial angle are correct you can now continue with positioning the facial proportions, chief anatomical signposts, and the hair-line. So, at this stage do not even think about rendering the complete nose. Rendering the nose at this stage is a sure prescription for disaster. The angle of the nose and the construction of the tip require a high degree of accuracy.

Instead, begin to sketch the general light/dark pattern.
The lights are painted out using a kneaded eraser. The look we are looking for is that of a ghost image. That means, above all, not to add minutia. In addition, work from the general to the specific.

Once the general light/dark pattern is drawn then the profiled features can be tackled. using a very sharp pencil you can sketch upwards from the chin to the forehead carefully viewing the shape. As you sketch mutter the anatomical terms of each feature that you draw. You would be surprised at how that ilucidates the sketching process. Having an understanding of the facial anatomy will set your portrait sketching miles ahead of those who do not.

The tip of the nose, particularly, demands anatomical reconstruction to get it right.

A common error novices make with the profile view is placing the eye too far forward. The eye sockets are recessed quite considerably into the head. If you drop a plumb-line from the inside corner of the eye you will see that the eye aligns itself with the node of the mouth.

Further rendering and cross-hatching tones are done with 2H and 4H pencils. Choosing how far you want to take your sketch is an artistic decision you have to make yourself. If you wish, you can leave the portrait somewhat unfinished.

In closing, sketching the profile view involves the same general principles that apply to any view. In this case, the arabesque is particularly major. The major thing to recall is not to place the actual complete features of the head too early in the process.

Do you want to learn the secrets of pencil portrait sketching? Download my brand new free pencil portrait drawing tutorial here: pencil portrait tutorial.

Remi Engels is a pencil portrait artist and oil painter and skilled sketching teacher. See his work at pencil portraits.

Art helps to enlighten kids - you should know how to be a good parent.

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Posted in: Drawing Tips | | January 2009