Hello everyone! I’m Manilia, a 2D artist. I draw fanart and my characters in anime style.

Here’s my take on a profile tutorial!

 

I’ll break it down into three parts:

 

1. Idealized Proportions;

2. Bargue Method;

3. Nuanced Tips.

 

The foundations can be a bit of a drag for many people, especially when you're just starting out. Personally, I don't consider myself an expert capable of teaching complex topics such as head anatomy, so I'll try to keep it simple.

Based on my own learning experience, whether you aim to depict realism or explore a stylized approach, proportions play an important role in creating a recognizable profile.

1. Idealized Proportions.

Idealized proportions are the go-to method mentioned in countless art books, courses, and lessons from various artists. It's all about breaking down the body into simpler, understandable parts. It’s called "idealized" because it's like an average measurement that follows a certain rhythm. We all know real-life heads and faces come in many different shapes and sizes, so think of these proportions as a helpful framework. It not only helps you draw something that's considered a beauty standard but also lets you get creative and play around with more interesting and diverse shapes.

 

The head profile usually starts with a square shape. Technically, it's more like a vertically stretched rectangle. From there, we divide it into two equal parts both horizontally and vertically. These lines mark two key spots:

 

• the corner of the eye;

• the starting point of the ear.

Moving forward, we delve into working with the face. We divide it into three equal sections, plus a little bit at the top of the head. To find these sections, we break down the upper half into three equal parts. Starting from the highest line, we measure three parts that define the forehead, brow line, base of the nose, and chin.

As a personal tip, I often skip this upper portion as it is usually covered by hair, but it's still valuable knowledge to acquire, especially for beginners.

Here are some important details to keep in mind:

 

• The shape of the skull resembles an egg.

• The base of the skull and the base of the nose typically align at the same level.

• In profile, the brow placement line indicates the widest part of the skull.

• The ear is positioned between the brow line and the base of the nose.

• When drawing the ears, lips, and eyes, they should be placed diagonally.

• The contour of the chin does not match the jawline.

These are key considerations when capturing facial proportions accurately.

Here are some of the prominent distinctions between male and female profiles:

For parts 2 and 3 go to my video on Youtube! <3