Portrait Tips - Part One

Knitting - oil painting by Mrs I Westcott

Here are a few pointers to help you map out the facial features of your sitter. The following are guidelines only as the characteristics of individual sitter's may vary:

• The bottom of the eye socket is at the mid point of the face.

• The top of the ears are on a line with the eyebrows.

• The bottom of the ears are on a line with the end of the nose.

• There is one eye's width between the eyes.

• The distance between the pupils is a bit wider than the width of the lips.

• The skull is as deep as the length of the face.

• The back of the skull is slightly wider than the face.

• Capturing the person's hairstyle is integral to creating a successful likeness.

Part two to follow soon!

Best wishes

Lee