Proportions of a

Portrait
Learning to Draw Faces
In the beginning..
The proportions of a portrait is based on an
Idealized set of proportions represented in the
Ancient Greek Sculptures.
But first, we will take a brief look back to
discover where this idealized set of
proportions originated.
They have been adopted as a guide for the
mechanics of portrait drawing.
Greek Archaic Period





Peplos Kore, about 530 BC,
Marble, 4` high. Acropolis
Museum, Athens
Earliest (625-480 BC)
Characteristics:
Kore clothed female figure
Kouros nude male youth
Freestanding
Frontal stance
Left foot forward
Clenched fists
Puppet-like Pose
Idealized
Originally painted to emphasize natural
appearance
Illustrates the Archaic Smile (the sign of
life)
Greek Classical Period
Athena, by Myron
Museum in Frankford
Germany


Peak of Greek Art and Architecture
Idealized figures
Represents Idealism and Humanism

Athena
Gown gathers at the waist and hangs in
natural-looking folds, suggest the
presence of a real body underneath.
Form and Posture of a real woman
Demonstrates the classical contrapposta
position (natural s curve on body) weight
shift A real breakthrough in the art of
representing the human figure.
(480 -323 BC)
Greek Hellenistic Period
Nike of Samothrace
(about 200 BC)

More dramatic / melodramatic

Nike of Samothrace
(about 200 BC)

Symbol of Winged Victory, her great
wings spread wide as she lands on the
prow of a ship.

The force of the wind whips the drapery
into wonderfully animated folds.

Sweeping and energetic forward
movement
323-31 BC
The Search for Perfection
Greek Idealism
Today most of us know that
there is no such thing as a
perfect human being, but the
ancient Greeks had a different
idea. They believed that
perfection of mind and character
must be contained in a perfect
body. As a result, Greek figures
are idealized appearing heroic,
athletic and well proportioned.
The Discus Thrower
Idealism and Humanism
Idealism has to do with the concept
of perfection.

Humanism (Realism): Man is the
measure of all things. Realism or
Humanism is defined as a view of life
based on nature, dignity, and interest
of people (Rather than superstitions
like the Egyptians.)




Perfect but Human
Athena: Classical Greek Art Period
Idealism and Humanism
Archaic Greeks represented man in an
idealized / perfect manner.
The believed that Man is the measure of all
things they looked toward nature rather
than spiritualism to produce art.
The Classical Greeks built upon the Idealism
and included a more life-like / humanistic
representation of man including such things
as contrapposto and natural looking folds.





Perfect but Human
Athena: Classical Greek Art Period
Roman Realism
Roman Realism is
represented in the ancient
Roman busts illustrating real
human characteristics of
individuals and not idealized
puppets of the Archaic and
Classical Greek periods.
Your job is to use the
Idealized proportions to draw
your portrait but to include the
Humanistic or Realism
elements that make you who
you are aim for the Roman
Realism
Proportions of a Portrait
Archaic
Sculptures
Provides a sense of life quality.
Proportions of a Portrait
The proportions of a portrait is based on an Idealized set of
proportions represented in the Ancient Greek Sculptures.
Proportions of a Portrait
Therefore, to draw a portrait memorize these idealized
proportions in order to set up the mechanics of your portrait.
Step 1
Draw an oval.
Step 2
Divide in half.
EYES
Step 3
Divide the
bottom in half
again.
NOSE
Step 4
Divide in
half
vertically.
Step 5
On the eye line
divide length
into 5 equal
parts.
EYE
PLACEMENT
Step 6
Place this line
between the nose
line and the
bottom of the
oval.
MOUTH
Step 7
This is just a
suggestion for
a minimal
amount of
shading for
the chin.
CHIN
Step 8
The width of the
mouth is as wide as the
center points of the
pupils of the eyes.
WIDTH OF MOUTH
Step 9
The width of the end
of the nose is as wide
as the space between
the eyes.
NOSE WIDTH
Step 10
The ear placement
is between the eye
line and the nose
line.
EARS
Step 11
The neck begins at
the base of the ear
and slants inwards.
NECK
Assignment
Draw a self-portrait in pencil starting with the mechanics
of the proportions of a portrait that is rendered in such a
way that is reflects the real you.

Using the steps in Proportions of a Portrait, lightly draw
the guidelines on your drawing paper.

Using a frontal photocopy of your photo place the
proportions of a portrait transparency over the photocopy
and noice the variation that must be made in order to
render your portrait as your likeness.

Assignment

Draw your likeness in contour lines. At this point
a teacher / student critique is required. Bring
your artwork and come see me.

Make a copy of this contour drawing and set
aside for a future project.
Assignment

Shade your portrait using plenty of values to give
you a rich value drawing that includes black and
white and at least 3 values in between. You
may use a mirror on an easel to check the
values and details of your likeness. At this point
a teacher / student critique is required. Bring
your artwork and come see me.

Assignment
When you are finished turn in your project for
evaluation with the following:
Teacher Rubric (fill in your name, class period
and the date that you turned in your project.
Self-Assessment (Completing this is included
your final rubric assessment.)


Assessment
Fill in the blank for questions 1 7 using the words from the list
above.

1. Hellenistic is the most dramatic period of Greek art exhibiting high
_____________ and __________________.
2. __________________________ is the second ancient Greek
period of art.
3. __________________________ is the first ancient Greek period
of art.
4. __________________________ is the third ancient Greek period
of art.
5. Classical art fuses _______________________ and
____________________ philosophies into the art.
6. The mechanics of portrait drawings are based on the ancient
____________________ statues.
7. The archaic smile of the Greek sculptures was an attempt by the
sculptors to give work a ____________________.
Assessment

Short Answer Answer in complete sentences.

What is Roman Realism and explain how and why
they produced their sculpture busts? (slide 10 10 pts)

What is meant by Idealism and Humanism in
relationship to Classical Greek Art? Why did the
Classical Greeks produce the art that they did? Give
two examples of how the Classical Greeks of Idealism
and Humanism in their sculptures. (slide 9 30 points)
Assessment
Draw an oval and place the mechanics (lines) of
the proportions of a portrait.

Gallery


Other Presentation

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