IN PROFILE Brenda Hoddinott P08 INTERMEDIATE: PEOPLE In this project, I show you some easy techniques for drawing the three basic types of adult noses in profile, by following only three simple steps. This project is divided into the following four sections: INTRODUCTION: Adult noses come in so many different shapes and sizes, that clumping them all into only three categories is very challenging. STEP 1: ESTABLISH PROPORTION: You sketch the proportions of a generic profile view of each of the three basic types of noses. STEP 2: OUTLINE SHAPES: You outline the shapes of the noses more precisely. STEP 3: SHADING FORMS: Shading the lower section of a nose is like shading three independent circular forms. Defining the upper section is similar to shading a rounded wedge-shaped form or half an oval. Supplies include 2H, HB, and 2B pencils, erasers, and good quality drawing paper. 7 PAGES 7 ILLUSTRATIONS This lesson is recommended for artists with good drawing skills, as well as students of home schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators. Published by Hoddinott Publishing for Drawspace.com, Halifax, NS, Canada - 2008
2 INTRODUCTION Adult noses come in so many different shapes and sizes, that clumping them all into only three categories is very challenging. Before you draw a nose, you should become familiar with its different parts (See Figure 801). Find a mirror, examine your own nose, and identify each of the following: 1. Bridge (sometimes called the nasal bone) is the section of the nose where the upper bony section joins the cartilage. While barely visible on young children, the bridge on an adult nose often protrudes as a noticeable bulge or bump. The contoured shape of the bridge is most obvious when the nose is viewed in profile. 2. Ball (also called the tip) refers to the largest, central rounded form on the lower half of the nose. The ball is not necessarily spherical. It can also appear oval-shaped, triangular, or even rectangular (with rounded edges of course). 3. Wings are two soft, rounded (often triangular shaped) forms extending from the sides of the ball of the nose. 4. Nostrils are the openings on the lower section of each side of a nose. 5. Base of a nose (also called a septum) is in between the nostrils and connects with the lower face above the upper lip. Shape refers to the outward outline of a form. Basic shapes include circles, squares and triangles. Forms are created in drawings by adding shading to transform a shape into three-dimensional structures, such as a circle becoming a sphere. Proportion is the relationship in size of one component of a drawing to another or others. Figure 801 All adult noses fall somewhere into one of the following three types (Figure 802): Upturned noses angle upward and the ball is higher than the wings. The ball and nostrils of straight noses line up horizontally with the wings. On down-turned noses the ball is lower than the wings creating a downward angle. Figure 802
3 Noses come in an infinite array of shapes. When drawing a face, you need to closely observe your subject s nose to determine the shapes of its individual parts. To accurately establish the proportions of a nose, you first sketch the overall size and location of the nose in relation to the face. Then, you visually measure the size ratio of each part of the nose when compared to the whole, and adjust your sketch accordingly. STEP 1: ESTABLISH PROPORTION When drawn from the side, only two circular forms of the nose come into play, the ball and one wing. Follow along with me and sketch the proportions of a generic profile view of each of the three basic types of noses. You can draw one at a time or all three at once. The instructions are the same for each. 1) Draw a large circle for the ball of each nose (Figure 803). Leave lots of space above and to the right to add the bridge and wing. Press very lightly with your 2H pencil so you don t damage or dent the paper. My sketch has been darkened in an imaging program so you can see it. In fact it is so faint that the sketch lines are barely visible. Figure 803 2) Add a smaller circle that overlaps the larger one. This smaller circle represents the shape of the wing of the nose. (Refer to Figure 804).
4 Figure 804 3) Gently pat your sketch lines until they are so faint that you can barely see them. The proportions are established and the next step is to accurately outline the forms of the nose. An ideal or perfectly shaped nose tends to be highly subjective and differs significantly for individuals of diverse cultures and ethnicities. What is considered perfect to one person is completely different than someone else s concept of ideal. Also, when drawing adult faces, keep in mind that male noses are usually proportionately longer and larger than those of females. STEP 2: OUTLINE SHAPES In this section you outline the shapes of the noses more precisely. Do not simply draw over your sketch lines; rather, examine the outlines of the noses carefully, and more accurately depict the shapes of the various forms as defined by their anatomical structures. 4) Refer to the outlines of the circles to draw the shapes of the ball and wing. Refer to Figure 805. As with most body parts, the individual forms of a nose, are rendered with curved lines. 5) Add the outline of the bridge of the nose, the nostril, and the tiny section of face under the nose.
5 Figure 805 Your drawings of noses will appear flat, rather than three-dimensional, if you use too little contrast in values. So, a word to the wise - unless your model actually has a very flat nose, always use a broad range of values. STEP 3: SHADING FORMS Simply stated, shading the lower section of a nose is like shading three independent circular forms. As you add shading to the spheres, keep in mind that the dominant light source is from the left. Defining the upper section is similar to shading a rounded wedge-shaped form or half an oval. 6) Add light shading to identify the forms of the nose. Refer to Figure 806. Light from the left creates darker shadow sections on the right. The curved hatching lines used for shading, follow the curves of the circular shape. When shading noses, let your pencils, from light (2H or HB) to dark (4B), do a lot of the work. You only need to decide where to place all your values. When drawing noses, try and forget that you are drawing a nose. Instead concentrate on defining the various forms according to the light and shadows.
6 Figure 806 7) Use your kneaded eraser to lighten the outlines of the forms. 8) Use crosshatching to complete the shading of the various forms. Figure 807 Step back from your drawing and have a look at the overall values. Add final touches to the shading, if needed.
7 BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, and oil paints. My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter, the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable. >Brenda Hoddinott< Born in St. John s, Newfoundland, Brenda grew up in the small town of Corner Brook. She developed strong technical competencies with a personal commitment to self directed learning, and the aid of assorted Learn to Draw books. During Brenda s twenty-five year career as a self-educated civilian forensic artist, numerous criminal investigation departments have employed Brenda s skills, including Royal Canadian Mounted Police and municipal police departments. In 1992, Brenda was honored with a commendation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and in 1994, she was awarded a Certificate of Membership from Forensic Artists International. Her home-based art career included graphic design, and teaching recreational drawing and painting classes. As supervisor of her community s recreational art department, Brenda hired and trained teachers, and designed curriculum for several children s art programs. In 1998, Brenda chose to end her eighteen-year career as an art educator in order to devote more time to writing, drawing, painting, and developing her websites. Drawspace http://www.drawspace.com incorporates her unique style and innovative approach to curriculum development. This site offers downloadable and printable drawing classes for students of all abilities from the age of eight through adult. Students of all ages, levels and abilities have praised the simple step-by-step instructional approach. This site is respected as a resource for fine art educators, home schooling programs, and educational facilities throughout the world. LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT Drawing for Dummies: Wiley Publishing, Inc., New, York, NY, this 336 page book is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally. The Complete Idiot s Guide to Drawing People: Winner of the Alpha-Penguin Book of the Year Award 2004, Alpha - Pearson Education Macmillan, Indianapolis, IN, this 360 page book is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally.