Archive of Fine Arts

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Heavy jaw head rotation reference

The broad-jawed head asks you to keep track of the lower face as a solid mass. Block in the width between the jaw corners and compare it with the cheekbones above. As the head turns, the far corner moves inward on the page while the near side becomes longer. Carry that change through the chin and mouth rather than leaving a front-facing lower face beneath a turned nose.

Line studies through the turn

Front, three-quarter and profile in tone

Head rotation reference, Heavy jaw, 0 degrees front view, tonal drawing
0° · Tonal drawing
Head rotation reference, Heavy jaw, 45 degrees three-quarter view, tonal drawing
45° · Tonal drawing
Head rotation reference, Heavy jaw, 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.