How to draw the back of the head: 180° reference

Drawing this angle

At 180 degrees, draw the back of the skull as a volume with a definite width and height. Compare its widest point with the narrower junction at the neck. The ears, where visible, provide useful checks on level and symmetry, but measure their actual projection instead of giving them identical shapes by habit. Hair or surface detail can disguise the underlying outline, so begin with the largest continuous mass.

Look for the change between the rear skull and the side planes. In a line drawing, that change may have little or no internal mark; the tonal plate can help you locate it. Keep the neck attached to the underside of the head and compare its width with the cranial mass above. Try blocking the view with a single outer contour and one value for the neck. Add internal marks only when they explain a surface change you can point to in the reference.

Step by step: How to draw the head from the back, one of the head guides in order.