The eyes are an awfully important part of the face. If they're off, people will notice and the god of proportions will smite you.
So how do you keep them from floating out of their sockets and killing you in your sleep? You nail them down with the parts of the face you never knew you cared about.
There's a nice little pizza slice of a plane that has always helped me link the shape of the orbit to the corner of the eye. Its shape varies a lot, but that makes it easier to find the differences in the face I'm looking at.
The first point of interest is at the corner of the eye. (A)
The upper line of the plane (B) is a place where the orbit looks like it sort of folds. The curve of this line depends on the amount of fat in the upper upper eyelid.
The lower line (C) may be less obvious, depending on the face. Being a place where a lot of action happens in facial personality land, it might be cut off by lower lid eyebags, or wrinkles. I just call as I see it per face.
The final, outer line (D) goes along the rim of the orbit. After this line, there's a big drop off into the side of the head.
Measuring the shape and angles of this plane against that of any other consistent shapes I see on the face (irises are always good for measuring against) makes it easier for me to place eyes proper.
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Your blog has taught me so much in one afternoon! Thank you thank you thank you for taking the time and effort to explain the subtle things you've noticed about faces.
ReplyDeleteI feel a bit better armed against the ravages of trying to learn to draw people. Once more to the breach...