Portrait Block in Guide Part Two

THE PORTRAIT
BLOCK-IN GUIDE
PART TWO
APPLYING THE STRATEGY AND SKULL
STRUCTURE TO A PORTRAIT
The Purpose
My goal with this guide is to clearly illustrate
the visual cues and information I look for
when starting a portrait. It serves as a tool,
and while it's not perfect or wholly original, it
embodies the process I've found most
beneficial in starting portrait drawings and
paintings. This approach is the culmination of
strategies I've developed and refined over six
years working with live portraits and studying
the masters.
I hope this guide aids you in developing your

visual language and enhances your
understanding of how to simplify a portrait
into broader, more manageable, “solid”, and
coherent parts.
Step 1
Evenlope Your Subject
Define the “total egg shape” - AKA find the general size and
shape of your subject.
Benefit: Setting the outer limits from the beginning helps

make sure your portrait doesn't get bigger or smaller by
accident as you add details and complex parts.
Step 2
Mark the Halfway Point
Mark the halfway point for reference.
Benefit: This middle line divides the face into easier pieces to
work with. Plus, turning the face into simpler shapes helps
with comparative measuring, and analysis. You can see how
parts of the face match up or differ in size and how they fit
together more easily.
Step 3
Eye Sockets Placement
Sketch the basic shape of the eye sockets. Remember: Don't

put in details or draw the eyes yet.
Benefit: Eye sockets are easier to spot and cover a bigger

part of the face than just the eyes. This helps when you're
comparing relative sizes of features and lays the groundwork
for getting the proportions of the face to look right. Using
big, simple shapes is the key.
Step 4
General Nose Structure
Draw the basic shape of the nose. Remember: It's normally a

triangle type shape and it includes the whole nose.
Benefit: You can easily see if this basic shape is even and fits
within the overall head shape. You won't get caught up in the
small details like nostrils and shadows. This step helps you
continue to set up the face's basic relative measurements.
Step 5
Nose Measurement
Measure the face using the nose as a guide.
Rule: The nose is about one-third of the face (this doesn't

count the hair). The distance from the top of the nose to the
top of the forehead is one-third. And the distance from the
bottom of the nose to the chin is also one-third of the face.
Step 6
General ‘Mouth’ Structure
Sketch an oval shape for the area of the mouth and chin.
Benefit: This part of the face sticks out, so it's helpful to

mark it early. Also, outlining this general shape is useful for
comparison and gives you a basis for placing the mouth.
Step 7
Measure the Mouth
Measure to position the mouth.
In the area we drew in step 6 (from the nose to the chin), the
line for the mouth will be about one-third of the way down.
Of course, this is a general rule and varies slightly depending
on the subject.
Step 8
Place the Mouth
Place the general structure of the mouth.
Look for the shadow under the lips, and use a subtle color to
define the general form. At this point it is really just a
placeholder to use for building.
Step 9
Note Cheek Planes
Use subtle colors and/or shading to define the cheek planes

and strengthen the facial structure.
Pay attention to the light and shadow areas when doing this.
It offers important clues about the foundational structure,
especially with Rembrandt lighting.
Step 9
Note
To estimate the cheek planes, you can think of a wide

triangle shape stretching all the way down to the chin. Notice
how a smaller triangle goes from the eye socket's edge to the
mouth's edge, and a larger one goes all the way down to the
chin. NOTE: This is just the visual guide I look for to outline
the cheek plane and not something I would draw on the
canvas or paper.
Step 10
Chin, Jaw, Mouth Planes
Break down the jaw, chin, and mouth area into smaller,
simpler shapes.
Use the natural, blocky shapes as your guide. Keep in mind:

the chin and jawline have very slight changes that give them
their shape and sense of depth. Above the mouth, I avoid
drawing smile lines; it’s really about a subtle change in value
to indicate the volume.
Step 11
Simplify the Forehead
Simplify the forehead into broad planes based on light and

shadow. Also Simplify hair where applicable. Look for broad
masses of light and shadow to separate areas into more
managable value planes.
Step 13
Identify Key Light Shapes
Look for key highlights and masses of value shaped by the

light.
Step 13
Note
In Rembrandt lighting, the notable highlight areas include the
forehead, cheekbone, eye socket, and nose on the light side.
The light also shapes the chin, cheek, lips, and the shadow
side cheek too, making the famous triangle of light.
Step 14
Shadow Shapes
Identify the main shapes formed by the shadows, including

those around the nose, cheek, eye sockets, mouth, and chin.
These will help to bring the form together and create a sense
of solidity and weight. By this point, the portrait should
strongly resemble your subject.
Step 15
General Eye Shape
Find the basic shape of the eye and add it in a simple, subtle
way. Benefit: This acts as a temporary guide to build upon
and helps with measuring other parts. Notice the light on the
cheekbone, inside the eye socket, and how the eye's shape
compares to the eye socket. These will be key indicators for
shaping the eye.
Conclusion
This guide simply serves as a starting point. I

encourage you to practice and refine a block-
in strategy that makes sense to you.
With a simplified basis to work from, you'll

find your ability to capture likeness, draw
quickly, and flatter your model improving
with each portrait.
Remember, mastery comes with patience,

practice, and persistence. Keep refining your
skills, and let each stroke bring you closer to
mastery.
What Now?
Practice

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THE PORTRAIT

I hope this guide aids you in developing your

Benefit: Setting the outer limits from the beginning helps

Mark the halfway point for reference.

Sketch the basic shape of the eye sockets. Remember: Don't

Benefit: Eye sockets are easier to spot and cover a bigger

Draw the basic shape of the nose. Remember: It's normally a

Measure the face using the nose as a guide.

Rule: The nose is about one-third of the face (this doesn't

Benefit: This part of the face sticks out, so it's helpful to

Measure to position the mouth.

Place the general structure of the mouth.

Use subtle colors and/or shading to define the cheek planes

To estimate the cheek planes, you can think of a wide

Use the natural, blocky shapes as your guide. Keep in mind:

Simplify the forehead into broad planes based on light and

Look for key highlights and masses of value shaped by the

Identify the main shapes formed by the shadows, including

This guide simply serves as a starting point. I

With a simplified basis to work from, you'll

Remember, mastery comes with patience,

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