Portrait Drawing Tip 88
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Why classical canons of proportions are so important
When it comes to drawing portraits, one thing above all plays a very important role - canon of proportions. A canon is a set of rules, which help an artist to depict realistic head and facial features with needed proportions, angles and alignments. Such rules are not absolute. Every person has individual proportions that is why every face is different. Such rules can be used not as a template, but as a guidance of what to measure from life and check in drawing. It is not about applying every proportion according to the canon, but to see how real proportions and alignments deviate from such a canon. This is especially helpful when it comes to drawing portraits from memory and imagination, when a model is not available. A classical canon of proportions helps to draw well-proportioned portraits. Also, by "bending" such a canon, you can create unique faces from imagination.
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