Archive of Fine Arts wordmark

How to draw the head in near profile: 67.5° reference

Minimal head at 67.5 degrees. Compare the pencil drawing with the tonal study.

Head rotation reference, Minimal head, 67.5 degrees near-profile view, pencil drawing
Pencil drawing
Head rotation reference, Minimal head, 67.5 degrees near-profile view, tonal drawing
Tonal drawing

Drawing this angle

At 67.5 degrees, the head approaches profile while retaining a narrow view of the far side of the face. Start with the relationship between the nose tip, chin and forehead. Then check how much of the far eye and cheek actually remains visible. Draw the shape you can see; a remembered full eye placed in that narrow space can undo the whole turn.

The near side of the head now takes up more of the drawing. Compare the distance from the eye to the ear with the distance from the eye to the nose. Place the jaw corner under that larger side plane, rather than directly below the mouth. In the line plate, trace the overlaps around the nose and lips. In the tonal plate, distinguish the cheek's surface from the darker eye socket. A useful exercise is to draw the outer profile first, then add only the ear and jaw to establish depth.

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

See the full turn

Compare all ten heads

Keep drawing

The minimal head at all sixteen angles, full size, with its turnaround loops and a practice sheet, is in study pack 04 and in head rotation volume 1.