Basic Head Construction

Basic Head Construction : 1

  Fig : Basic Head Construction: 0

Step 1:

Fig: Head Construction1:1

Character Design for the Head is very simple. Like all character design is it based on simplified anatomy and construction. All characters can be broken down into basic 3D shapes or forms.

Step 2:

Fig: Head Construction1:2

Once we have the ball. We draw an eyeline horizontally around the ball. Then, draw a line vertically, the centerline, perpendicular to the eyeline.

Step 3:

Fig: Head Construction1:3

The bottom of the eyes is anchored to the eyeline. The top of the nose is anchored below the eyeline. The eye lines show the up and down and tilt directions of the head.

HINT: Due to perspective the eye closer is larger than the eye farthest from us. The centerline shows us the left and right direction the ball (or character) is facing.

Step 4:
Add the pupils and the mouth and bottom lip. Bottom lips are very important to expressions and dialog.

    Fig: Head Construction1:4

HINT: The mouth is drawn slightly to one side - it keeps the design asymmetrical and it makes the character more appealing.
The pupils are always drawn as complete shapes (a) - and not as cutouts (b). Add the ears (c) for human characters they generally begin at the eyeline. Find the crown of the head at the back and draw the hair forward from there.

HINT: Think of it as covering the ball shape of the head. Continue to cover the sides of head (ball) and you have the basic head construction.

Step 5:

Fig: Head Construction1:5

When drawing eyes begin with the pupil and let the eye shape and the eye brow radiate from it.

Step 6:

Using the same principles of a simple head design, let's create other characters.

   Fig : Basic Head Construction1: 6

Again, draw a ball, and then draw the eyeline and the centerline. Remember, these lines always curve around the ball. In fact, draw 2 or 3 balls with eye lines and centerlines. Now add the eyes (anchored above the eye lines) and forms for snouts or muzzles below the eye lines.

HINT: Part of designing characters is play so play with different forms (3D shapes).

Step 7:

   Fig Basic Head Construction1: 7

Draw a ball with the eyeline and centerline (a). Draw the eyes above… and the snout below… (b). Note in drawing (c), the bottom of the snout or muzzle is the top of the animal's mouth. Also, when the character has really large eyes, you can draw brows above the eyes. These brows parallel the eye shape.

Basic Head Construction : 2

Obviously, not all character's heads are designed as perfectly round. This section shows how to create more complex character head construction.

Step 1:
We can accomplish our task by adding to the ball shape below the eyeline - a combination cheek and jaw line - that extends from one side of the eyeline to the other side of the eyeline.

   Fig Basic Head Construction2: 1

HINT: This cheek/jaw line comes in handy for squashing and stretching the cheek/jaw line during lip sync (dialog).

Step 2:

Fig: Head Construction2:2

We can combine both the cheek/jaw line with a snout to create even more complex characters. Let's take LaMatt the dog and construct him. Again, we begin with the ball, eyeline. Center line and cheek/jaw line.

Fig: Head Construction2:3

Next we add a 3D form for the snout.

Fig: Head Construction2:4

Then we draw in the eye sockets and a nose.

Fig: Head Construction2:5

Finally we complete LaMatt by adding a mouth, ears and fur and other assorted details.

Just remember that the details are always added last.

Character Construction with Basic Shapes:

  Final image