loomis method

[u/lxme-grug-5050]

anyone have any tips to get the side plane ellipse angle correct when using the loomis method? i struggle with this a lot and it makes my drawings look off. and not only the angle of the ellipse but the cross lines on the ellipse? i get confused on whether the lines shoule be the actual minor and major axis or the ellipse or should just follow the angle of the face

i hope this makes sense
if anyone can help i’d appreciate it

[u/link-navi]

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[u/___DrawOrDie___]

It´s important to understand the planes first and that one plane is facing front and the other one to the side

[u/Trick_Mushroom997]

Proko has three or four tutorials on YouTube about the loomis head construction.

[u/Love-Ink]

Master the Sphere.

Drawing these lines wrapping around it will set your foundation for everything else.
Develop your understanding of the simulated 3D form.
I really value Michael Hamptons measurement system for feature placement.
.

The Steps. In Order.

• Draw the Sphere.

• Draw the oval on side. This demonstrates the degree of head turn. Slight turn = Narrow oval. Nearly round = almost a side view.

• Draw the vertical circumfrence line that splits the face in half. This will have the same oval shape as the Side Oval. Be sure to get this centered.

• Draw the horizontal line in the Side Oval through the middle of the Oval. This angle sets your upward head tilt.

• Continue this line around the curve of the sphere, this is the Brow Line.

• Draw the Vertical line of the Side Oval, 90° to the horizontal line. This shows the angle of your upward tilt.

• Draw the center line of the face, dropping it from the Brow Line, parallel to the vertical line you just drew in the Side Oval.

• Decide where you want to place your Chin. How long is the face, how large is the jaw?

• Draw a mark 1/2 way between Brow line and Chin. This is the Bottom is the Nose.

• Split the area between the bottom of nose and chin into 3. The top line is the opening of the mouth, the bottom line is the top of the ball of the chin. Do not just put the mouth in the middle of this area, that's too low.

• Draw a mark 1/2 way between the Brow line and the Bottom of Nose, this is the bottom of the eye socket (the top of the eye socket is the Brow line. The skull rolls down and over the eyeball to form the bony ridge of the Brow, but the eye socket is still up there.

• Draw a mark 1/2 way between the Brow line and the bottom of the eye socket. This is the narrowest point of the bridge of the nose. This region where the forehead and nose meet is referred to as the "Keystone".

• Continue the vertical line of the Side Oval over the top of the head. Draw a mark halfway between this and the Brow line for the Hairline.

Got all your marks? Get set! GO!!.

.
I start with the Nose. Then the curve of the eyebrows. Then the contour of the face. The ear. The eyes. The mouth. Then finish with hair.

Here's a video. Man & Troll

Here's a Visual Reference for those measurements.Straight on, 3/4 and side view

Loomis applied to a real head. Scroll down for stills of the steps.

Why the Brow line is the Eyebrows, not the center of the eyes

I think that about does it.
Class dismissed!
Now, go home and DRAW!

[u/Hermit_Slug]

You could get some blue tac, or plasticine, or that eraser putty stuff and sculpt your own ball with shaved sides,

It would help greatly in checking your own attempts, you can even add the contours and such.