Archive of Fine Arts

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Gaunt planes head rotation reference

The gaunt head makes the cheekbone and the hollow beneath it useful construction landmarks. Compare the width across the cheekbones with the narrower mouth and chin. A dark hollow can look like a contour in the tonal drawing; check the line view to see whether it actually changes the silhouette. Follow the jaw back toward the ear before placing the neck, keeping the lean face attached to the larger skull.

Line studies through the turn

The line studies omit 45, 67.5, 180, 292.5 degrees. Those cells show the tonal drawing instead, labelled below.

Front, three-quarter and profile in tone

Head rotation reference, Gaunt planes, 0 degrees front view, tonal drawing
0° · Tonal drawing
Head rotation reference, Gaunt planes, 45 degrees three-quarter view, tonal drawing
45° · Tonal drawing
Head rotation reference, Gaunt planes, 90 degrees profile, tonal drawing
90° · Tonal drawing

Keep drawing

Try the free tonal sampler, or see the line and tonal studies in Head rotation volume 1.