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The head, from scratch

Six steps from the skull as a solid to a finished portrait.

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  1. 1

    The head as a solid

    Before any feature, find the ball of the skull, the centre line and the brow line. Copy only those three things on each drawing here: no eyes, no mouth.

    Portrait Head Bottle — Unknown artist Portrait Head Bottle Unknown artist Study of a Young Woman — Johannes Vermeer Study of a Young Woman Johannes Vermeer Antoine Watteau, Three Studies of a Woman's Head and a Study of Hands (recto), 1718-1719, NGA 47120 — Antoine Watteau Antoine Watteau, Three Studies of a Woman's… Antoine Watteau Sketches of Heads (verso, left); Two Women (verso, right) — John Brown Sketches of Heads (verso, left); Two Women… John Brown Study for the Head of St. Michael — Pietro da Cortona Study for the Head of St. Michael Pietro da Cortona Head of a Tahitian Woman — Paul Gauguin Head of a Tahitian Woman Paul Gauguin
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  2. 2

    The planes of the face, from life

    Photographs give honest light. Squint and mark where the face turns away from the light: those edges are the planes, and they are what make a head look solid.

    [Two Standing Female Nudes] — Félix-Jacques-Antoine Moulin [Two Standing Female Nudes] Félix-Jacques-Antoine Moulin [Self-Portrait with Christine and Yvonne Lerolle] — Edgar Degas [Self-Portrait with Christine and Yvonne… Edgar Degas Alonzo H. Sterrett, Late Adjutant, Fortieth U.S. Infantry — Hall & Company's Photograph Gallery Alonzo H. Sterrett, Late Adjutant, Fortieth… Hall & Company's Photograph… [Young Woman with Beckers Tabletop Stereoscope] — Porter Photograph Parlors [Young Woman with Beckers Tabletop… Porter Photograph Parlors [Union Cavalry Soldier with Pistol in Holster] — Tappin's Photograph Art Gallery [Union Cavalry Soldier with Pistol in Holster] Tappin's Photograph Art…
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  3. 3

    Exact copy: the Bargue method

    These plates were made to be copied line for line. Work slowly, compare angles against the vertical, and do not correct the model — correct yourself.

    Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue) ; (avec le concours de Jean-Léon Gérôme) — Bargue, Charles (1826?-1883). Dessinateur Gérôme, Jean-Léon (1824-1904). Dessinateur Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue)… Bargue, Charles… Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue) ; (avec le concours de Jean-Léon Gérôme) — Bargue, Charles (1826?-1883). Dessinateur Gérôme, Jean-Léon (1824-1904). Dessinateur Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue)… Bargue, Charles… Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue) ; (avec le concours de Jean-Léon Gérôme) — Bargue, Charles (1826?-1883). Dessinateur Gérôme, Jean-Léon (1824-1904). Dessinateur Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue)… Bargue, Charles… Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue) ; (avec le concours de Jean-Léon Gérôme) — Bargue, Charles (1826?-1883). Dessinateur Gérôme, Jean-Léon (1824-1904). Dessinateur Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue)… Bargue, Charles… Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue) ; (avec le concours de Jean-Léon Gérôme) — Bargue, Charles (1826?-1883). Dessinateur Gérôme, Jean-Léon (1824-1904). Dessinateur Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue)… Bargue, Charles… Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue) ; (avec le concours de Jean-Léon Gérôme) — Bargue, Charles (1826?-1883). Dessinateur Gérôme, Jean-Léon (1824-1904). Dessinateur Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue)… Bargue, Charles…
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  4. 4

    The essential line

    Holbein says everything with very few marks. Give yourself a budget: thirty lines per drawing, no shading. What you leave out is the lesson.

    Hermann von Wedigh III (died 1560) — Hans Holbein the Younger Hermann von Wedigh III (died 1560) Hans Holbein the Younger Erasmus of Rotterdam — Hans Holbein the Younger Erasmus of Rotterdam Hans Holbein the Younger Portrait of a Man in Royal Livery — Hans Holbein the Younger Portrait of a Man in Royal Livery Hans Holbein the Younger Benedikt von Hertenstein (born about 1495, died 1522) — Hans Holbein the Younger Benedikt von Hertenstein (born about 1495… Hans Holbein the Younger Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (obverse: The Potato Peeler) — Vincent van Gogh Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (obverse: The… Vincent van Gogh Philip Hobby Knight, after Holbein — John Smart Jr. Philip Hobby Knight, after Holbein John Smart Jr.
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  5. 5

    Masses of light and shadow

    Stop drawing edges and start drawing shapes of dark. Lay in the whole shadow side as one flat mass first, then break it up only where you must.

    Madame X (Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau) — John Singer Sargent Madame X (Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau) John Singer Sargent Egyptian Woman — John Singer Sargent Egyptian Woman John Singer Sargent Henry G. Marquand — John Singer Sargent Henry G. Marquand John Singer Sargent Violet Sargent — John Singer Sargent Violet Sargent John Singer Sargent John Singer Sargent -- Katharine Horner — John Singer Sargent John Singer Sargent -- Katharine Horner John Singer Sargent John Singer Sargent - Study for Sorrowful Mysteries — John Singer Sargent John Singer Sargent - Study for Sorrowful… John Singer Sargent
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  6. 6

    The finished portrait

    Now put it together: construction first, planes second, masses third, likeness last. If the likeness is wrong, the mistake is almost always in step one.

    Portrait of a Man — Benedetto Luti Portrait of a Man Benedetto Luti Portrait of Marc Liotard-Sarasin — Jean Etienne Liotard Portrait of Marc Liotard-Sarasin Jean Etienne Liotard Portrait of cardinal d'Ossat — Daniel Dumonstier Portrait of cardinal d'Ossat Daniel Dumonstier Portrait of Jonathan Richardson, Jr., the artist's son — Jonathan Richardson Sr. Portrait of Jonathan Richardson, Jr., the… Jonathan Richardson Sr. Portrait of Anton Heinrich Springer (1825–1895) — Henri Lehmann Portrait of Anton Heinrich Springer… Henri Lehmann Self-Portrait — Pietro Testa Self-Portrait Pietro Testa Portrait of a Man — Jean-Baptiste Jacques Augustin Portrait of a Man Jean-Baptiste Jacques Augustin
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