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Start Art 8 22 www.painters-online.co.uk nose and the forehead (seen most obviously in profile).As children age, so their heads take on the proportions of an adult head. Male and female heads Men’s faces appear more angular than those of women and the bones (e.g. above the eyebrows) stand out more. The eyebrows are straighter and bushier. Women’s heads are rounded; their lips are full and the nose is not as pronounced as in men. Often the eyes are bigger and the distance between the eyes and the eyebrows is greater than in men. Angle of vision The head is roughly symmetrical and the vertical midline of the face forms the axis of symmetry.Yet it is not a perfect symmetry, as each face is somewhat irregular.When sketching using a grid, you should assume symmetry and then draw in any known deviations.As a head is not a flat shape, rather a three-dimensional one, the flat nature of a grid needs to be converted into a spatial structure using meridians.These meridians clearly show the shifting of the proportions from a different angle of vision (see the illustrations). If the observer is looking from the same height at a person portrayed in half profile, the half of the face that is turned away is narrower and the nose turns into this half of the face.The side of the nose that is turned away is barely visible, yet you can see completely the side of the nose and the nostril of the side that is turned towards you. When looking from below, or with a head that is tilted back, the parts that are facing upwards are shortened, such as the forehead, the bridge of the nose and the lower lip. Not much of the top of the head can be seen.The ears appear to run downwards. When looking from above, or with a head hanging down, the upper part of the head takes up the largest area while the shapes in the lower part are shortened.The upper eyelids, nostrils, top lip and the part of the chin that is turned away are barely visible or unseen. Eyes The eyes are the most expressive and lively element of the human face. It is important to know about the shape and structure of the eyes so that they appear natural and alive.The eyes are made up of round eyeballs that sit in the bone sockets beneath the surface of the forehead and are protected by the eyelids.The lower, bony part of the eye socket often appears through the tissue that lies over it, making the rounded to angular shape visible – the so-called rings under the eyes.The outer corner of the eye is usually a bit higher than the inner one, so that the eye is at a slight slant.The inner corner of the eye has a tiny red knot with a little conjunctiva fold.The colour of the iris varies across all possible shades of dark or light brown, blue, grey and green.The pupil in the centre of the iris appears black.The eyelashes grow on the outer edge of the eyelids.The When drawing eyes, take the following into consideration: l The curvature of the eyeball can be seen through the lids. l The upper eyelid often throws a shadow over the eyeball. l Light sources often cause light reflections (glints) in the eyes, which make the eyes appear shiny and alive. l In profile, the eye appears simplified like a triangle. l The iris and the pupil are elliptical when viewed from the side. l The curvature of the eyeball and curved parts around the eye must be indicated using light and shade. l The lids have a certain thickness that in side view is visible along the lower lid and also often from the front view. The meridians of the head, showing how the proportions shift with a different angle of view. From left to right: view from the same height (half profile), view from below (half profile) and view from above (front view). View from the same height in half profile The half of the face that is turned away looks narrower. View from below The upper area of the head is shortened. View from above The lower area of the head is shortened. Women’s faces are generally rounder and softer than those of men