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Head from above reference: the face at a high angle

Here the camera sits 20 degrees above the head and looks down, the view you get of someone seated while you stand, a head bowed over a book, or a character drawn from a high angle. The same two study heads as the head from below page go around the turn: the minimal head and the heavy jaw.

What changes from above

The rings around the head for the brow and the eyes curve downward in the middle, like a smile. Their ends rise as they wrap around the sides, so in the front views the ears sit higher against the face: the top of each ear is above the brow and its lower end is above the base of the nose.

The top of the skull takes up more of the head, and the forehead looks taller. Below the nose the face gets shorter: the chin is smaller, the underside of the nose and the nostrils mostly hide, and the jaw covers most of the neck.

In the profiles the change is smallest: the face keeps its outline, the ear sits a little lower against the features, and more of the top of the head shows. The front and three-quarter views show the high angle most clearly, and the back views turn into the crown and the back of the skull over a short neck.

Minimal head, seen from above

Head from above reference, minimal head, 0 degrees front view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
0° · front view
Head from above reference, minimal head, 22.5 degrees slight three-quarter view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
22.5° · slight three-quarter view
Head from above reference, minimal head, 45 degrees three-quarter view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
45° · three-quarter view
Head from above reference, minimal head, 67.5 degrees near profile, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
67.5° · near profile
Head from above reference, minimal head, 180 degrees back view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
180° · back view
Head from above reference, minimal head, 270 degrees profile, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
270° · profile
Head from above reference, minimal head, 292.5 degrees near profile, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
292.5° · near profile
Head from above reference, minimal head, 315 degrees three-quarter view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
315° · three-quarter view
Head from above reference, minimal head, 337.5 degrees slight three-quarter view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
337.5° · slight three-quarter view

The same head from a level camera, at all sixteen angles: minimal head rotation reference.

Heavy jaw, seen from above

Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 0 degrees front view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
0° · front view
Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 22.5 degrees slight three-quarter view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
22.5° · slight three-quarter view
Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 45 degrees three-quarter view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
45° · three-quarter view
Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 67.5 degrees near profile, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
67.5° · near profile
Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 90 degrees profile, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
90° · profile
Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 180 degrees back view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
180° · back view
Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 270 degrees profile, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
270° · profile
Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 315 degrees three-quarter view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
315° · three-quarter view
Head from above reference, heavy jaw, 337.5 degrees slight three-quarter view, seen from 20 degrees above, tonal drawing
337.5° · slight three-quarter view

The same head from a level camera, at all sixteen angles: heavy jaw rotation reference.

Using the plates

Put a high-angle plate beside the same angle from the level set and from the low-angle set, and trace the brow line on all three. It bends one way from below, runs straight at eye level and bends the other way from above. Get that curve right and the ears and features follow it.

The construction is drawn step by step, from a level camera, in how to draw the head at any angle, step by step.

Keep drawing

These two heads are also sold drawn from a level camera around the full turn, with turning loops and practice sheets, in head rotation volume 1. The high-angle plates on this page are free.