Fully Constructing a Head from Scratch
$125
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Full course
This course teaches students to draw realistic human heads, from basic structure to detailed features, using Loomis-inspired techniques.
$125
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Educator, painter, and art historian. Author of Figure Drawing: Design and Invention and Gesture Drawing: Dynamic Movement and Form.
DOWNLOADS
fully-constructing-a-head-from-scratch.mp4
528 MB
fully-constructing-a-head-from-scratch-transcript-english.txt
15 kB
fully-constructing-a-head-from-scratch-transcript-spanish.txt
17 kB
fully-constructing-a-head-from-scratch-captions-english.srt
26 kB
fully-constructing-a-head-from-scratch-captions-spanish.srt
27 kB
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Learn how to construct a head from scratch with a focus on structure, proportions, and facial features. This lesson guides you through each step that we’ve learned so far, from shaping the head and jaw to adding realistic details like the eyes and nose. You'll also explore how to use planes and forms to create a more lifelike appearance.
With likeliness, I struggle a lot with setting up the initial construction. Like, sometimes the center line or the side plane of my drawing is slightly off from the reference, which then messes up the other steps. I also have trouble with determine the size of the glabella, shape of the nose, eye sockets, etc. for likeliness. Any tips or tricks for this? How can I catch these mistakes early on so it won’t trickle down? Or is this just something that’ll improve with more practice?
•
10d
Great question. Generally I like to set up an average head construction and then push and pull the different areas to gradually build that likeness. With practice you get a feel for making this a little more intuitive and with greater economy.
I'd encourage you to check out some of the other portrait courses here though. I'm sure there's other instructors that have better tricks or shortcuts for getting that likeness that I'm not aware of.
This was really helpful. Making forms explicit with contour lines is shaping my brain a bit I think.
Something went off when I followed along the wrinkles around the nose. Also getting more details in by drawing bigger
I tried my best to follow Mr. Hampton, but trying to look at the reference and look at Mr. Hampton's work was interesting to manage 😅- I think slowing down would have helped me be cleaner and improve my proportions and angles a bit.
Likeness is still an issue for me, so hopefully it's one of those skills that comes with time, observation, and of course, practice.
Feedback and critique is always appreciated!
Did this drawing along with Michael. Definitely helping me learn the facial features but I didn't really understand the planes of the fat deposits that well. Still glad I spent the time doing this.
i don't think it turned out that bad. capturing likeness is pretty hard. i think i may be rushing. it looks stylized.
•
1yr
The construction looks great! Nice work!
Only thing I might adjust is to make the ears and nose a touch bigger. Likeness is about tiny adjustments like this to add more personality.
Revisiting this course after diverting to the gesture course and I’ve noticed that although maybe if I’m getting to the same level of drawing as the first time, I’m getting there a lot quicker and with much less stress.
•
1yr
Nice!
I used your initial construction just to get to the meat and potatoes of the drawing and then realized I forgot how to do the lips. :-8 Time to go back and review before doing the project...
how to draw hair? start from a big shape and all these stuff?😁
•
2yr
Yep, pretty much. I draw the hair like a hat (more or less) and fit it to the head shape.
hello! I was wondering, if I can still get critique etc from the lecturer? Would that be possible if post my 11 step method, I have been practicing and following hamptons method from start to finish and would like feedback if possible, thanks!
•
2yr
Hi, I'm happy to give you a few pointers in the chat if you'd like to upload something. Sorry for the delayed reply.
I followed Michael's complete construction video as recommended. I did a quick 1-minute shading pass on top just to see if it held up! :D
Hi, First of all - what a great course! Thank you so much for this guidance. secondly - I was wondering - when understanding the construction and features of a person, can one look at a portrait but sketch a different expression?
•
2yr
Definitely! That sounds like a very challenging but doable assignment. You would just need to learn the major muscles of expression and then think of them wrapping over the surface forms we developed here. Once done, you would imagine each muscle pulling to create the expression you're after.
