Self+portraits

The human face can be sub-divided into sections that can be used to measure distances between parts of the face. This way, even a first time Artist can measure out a face and ensure things appear in the right places, both horizontally (width) and vertically (height).



The most basic unit of measurement here is the eye. The human head from ear tip to ear tip is generally five eye lengths wide with room for one eye between the eyes.



These red lines are equally spaced to show how the length of the eye fits into the measurement of the width of the head.



A circle drawn through the middle of the face, using the far corners of the eyes as a diameter, will generally find it's way through the tip of the nose. This can help the Artist determine the correct width and height of the head.



The tip of the nose is approximately half way between the eyes and the chin.



The eyes are located in the center of the head. From the corner of your eye, it is the same distance to the top of the head as it is to the chin.

Here these blue lines are equally spaced to show the same as above.

The length of the nose is generally the same as the hieght of the ears. Usually the ear tips line up with the eyebrows. There are always exceptions to these rules, but these measurements can help roughly place facial features.



From the brow line the length of the nose can generally, not always, determine the hairline or at least where the hair grows from the head. This helps get the size of the forehead correct.



The corners of the mouth usually line up the with centre of the eye. The mouth is usually found slightly less than half way between the nose and the chin (slightly closer to the nose than the chin).