( Head) Art Breakdown + My Super power | Patron Request

Before we get started:

Thank you for the request, Sanaa ! 

( Vocabulary ) |  *Bc= Because - W/ = With 

Hyperphantasia | My Super Power

One of my biggest delay’s as a self taught artist, was not learning and receiving a more traditional education for the arts, earlier. I wouldn’t participate In my first art class, till middle school. Without these lessons, I lacked discipline in certain areas I desired to master. I was one of those kids, that drew their characters hands behind their back—  HANDS, were the death of me as a kid. But, one of the biggest pros that came without traditional lessons was, the time I got to discover art, my way. Things that influence me didnt come with instructions and I didn’t have the artist there to help instruct me through the drawing.  I would over time train my mind and body, to instantly find short cuts and build 3D models mentally to achieve my art goals. 

Today, I can identify and breakdown any object, creating and finding smaller, specific shapes, with my eyes open in real time at any time.  I also have a photographic memory that also helps me get my art done. I would explain the experience being, like using those projectors, that were used in classrooms in the 80s-the early 00s. I would be the teacher and the projection being my thought bubble. Or a Thought bubble … 

“But why does this matter?!”

Well, I’m often asked to do tutorials, and with just the fundamentals down—-  I tend to struggle with the explaining part. There’s no good way to say,…

” I draw in my head and my body just moves with what’s going on in my Head.”

But, I realize this trait isn’t rare and other artist may also, have it. But those artist may not necessarily know what to look for when trying to breakdown images. So for now on, My Tutorials will be formatted like a breakdown— this may help you mainly focus on what to look for to get started on your drawing. My art process never starts the same and I usually find myself starting somewhere new every day ( doesn’t help I’m bad at sticking to one thing ). So, I hope that these breakdowns and guides will help you during your drawing journey, even with little to no written instruction. I know some artist may have what is known as aphantasia— which would be the opposite but, I’m hoping its a bit self explanatory. 

I will do my best to explain my madness but the main focus is how to use the guide and what to look for when training.

LETS GET STARTED —  The head

Okay as Mentioned, I’m poor at explaining but, I’m good at demonstrations. Bringing our cover image down… lets go over what we’re looking for and how it should help you.

So I’ll be going over a basic guide, that is so simple, you‘ll probably think I skipped a few steps. So, our goal ( the head in the image) is very stylized but ,very obvious — it’s a head. So, simple rule of thumb get as close as you can. This simply means don’t be scared to mess up, In general. it’ll probably never be perfect and you won’t get it right the first time… thats why we have multiple layers.

“Oger‘s have layers !!!” - Shrek

Back to my point—  as long as you identify the shape… your good. One way to think about Digital art, is like a Lasagna. We want to draw our image, as close as we can to its reference and improve on what we did on the next layer. This can Be repetitive, long and very tedious and thats why my process tends to start different every time.

So knowing that, we want to look for these (3) simples shapes when breaking down these images. The more youre able to break down objects, the easier it should be for you to draw by memory using shapes. 

Okay, so over the years, this pattern (or) the use of these shapes, would make up, Our basic breakdown for the head . 

A- Center

Using the nose or nose bridge to help you find the center, you’ll draw a small crosshair. The center is important bc these shapes aren’t in 3D and lack details that would probably help you identify which way your characters is facing. This would ultimately, set the direction of your image. 

B- Crown

The easiest shape you should be able to identify is, the circle. Now, though A is center, you may find it easier to draw the Crown first, than find your center. 

My word isn’t law, nor is most things in life that is told to you. So Please, use this as a guide and start wherever makes sense to you. It‘s important to note, that this info is to help you discover new ways to do your art, and not to be followed to a T. Take what you need and add to your process. 

C- Jaw and Cheeks

The square, will hold, the cheeks and jaws. If you look back at our example image above, lets focus on, the square. If you notice— The goal image, isn‘t perfectly aligned with the guide. Yet, it  follows the squares direction to form the jaw. 

D- Chin

Lastly,  the Triangle or chin. We‘ll in this case, the triangle also would house the mouth and nose as well. Its your second, center. 

Now in the corner, of the image— I took time out to display this guide in (2) additional angles ( 3/4 and Profile).  Just adjusting the shapes you can draw you character at any angle. 

Just to give you and example of the other (2)— this is the profile guide and how to use it.

Using the basic (3), you‘ll make this Guide above:

• Open another layer and turn down the opacity to your liking.
• Next, this is were you apply, the rule of thumb — Get as close as you can.

Now * WARNING * This is where things get complex.

At this point, you’re probably like… “ Well, what’s next baby?!’

Well…. 

… you could, continue with mapping out , the details. Like the eyes, nose, brows, and etc. Then you‘re, next goal is to continue layering your lasagna and adjusting your image till your pleased. However, This simple breakdown can get a bit complexed bc you can  breakdown other features on the face, to help you.

These are just examples of what we can do. When I can explain, I will. If there’s tips I can give, I will provide them. But I’ll be focusing more on how to utilize our basic shapes and identify them visually. 

So, if you have a request, I’ll do my best to prioritize them, but most of our art breakdowns will consist of  theme art for the month and every once in a while, I‘ll try to focus on more character design base ones. 

I hope this helps, and I can’t wait to see what request you have for me — wether it being an art request, a Art breakdown , music suggestion, or show— feel free to stop on by!!! Till then, talk to you all next time.