Ever wondered how to capture the essence of a girl's hairstyle in a drawing, particularly focusing on the back of her head? This often overlooked perspective can add depth and realism to your artwork. Let's explore techniques, tips, and common mistakes to help you perfect your 'back of girl head drawing'.
Whether you're an experienced artist or a budding one, mastering the back of a girl's head drawing can enhance your portraiture skills significantly. So, grab your pencils and let's dive in!
Understanding the Back of the Head
The back of the head presents unique challenges and opportunities. It's a complex area with various curves, planes, and directional changes in hair. To master it, you must first understand its anatomy and growth patterns.
Before you start drawing, observe real-life references or use images to familiarize yourself with the back of the head. Notice the way hair swells and tapers, how it flows down the neck, and the subtle curves of the skull.
Anatomy and Proportions
Anatomy is key to accurate drawing. The back of the head, like the front, follows a basic skull structure. The occipital bone at the back is large and rounded. Using an average head length to width ratio (around 4:3) can help you establish a starting point.
Understand how hair growth direction follows the skull's curvature. Hair on the crown grows upward, while at the nape it flows downward. This knowledge will guide your drawing strokes and shading.
Hair Texture and Structure
Hair texture and structure vary greatly. Long, straight hair will fall differently from short, curly hair. Observing real hair will help you grasp these differences. Practice drawing various hair types to build your skillset.
Remember, hair is not a uniform, flat surface. It has bulk, volume, and spaces between strands. Shading should reflect thisThree-dimensionality, creating depth and realism in your drawing.
Drawing Techniques
Now that you understand the basics, let's look at practical drawing techniques.
Start with basic shapes and proportions, then layer details as your understanding grows. Soft lines can be erased and redrawn, while hard lines are final and definite.
Blocking In Shapes
Begin with a simple, rough sketch. Use basic shapes - ovals, circles, and rectangles - to establish the head's overall form. Divide the back of the head into thirds horizontally to guide your placement.
Block in the broad masses of hair, noting how they fit with the skull shape. Use light, quick lines, focusing on shapes rather than details. This step sets up your drawing's foundation.
Building Details
Once you have your basic shapes, start refining your drawing. Use the 'hatched' or 'cross-hatching' technique for shading, gradually adding darker lines to build depth and form.
Don't forget to consider your hair's direction. Short, fast lines for upward growth; longer, curving lines for downward flow. Vary line weight to suggest bulk and volume.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Now you know the basics, let's briefly discuss common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
One common mistake is making hair too uniformly smooth or too rigidly structured. Real hair has variation, so aim for naturalistic unevenness.
Ignoring Hair Growth Direction
Another mistake is ignoring hair growth direction. Always consider which way the hair is growing, and let this guide your lines.
Avoid making hair look too flat or too 'helmet-like'. Use shading and line variation to create dimension.
Not Observing Tonal Variety
Lastly, a common oversight is not observing tonal variety. Light bounces off hair differently, so look for highlights and shadows. Use these to create depth and realism.
The back of the head's complex nature demands patience and practice. DWG (Drawing What You See) is key to improving. Keep refining your work, and don't be discouraged by initial struggles.
Remember, drawing is a skill that improves with practice. Regularly challenge yourself with new references and styles to grow as an artist. Now, grab your pencils and start drawing that perfect 'back of girl head'! Happy drawing!