Draw the Other Half-Art Lesson

Students choose their favorite famous person and draw the other half in Liberty Mickelsen's Art Class

1. ½ Face Portrait Drawing By: Liberty Mickelsen

2. Materials: A close-up magazine image or photo of a human face. Both sides of the face should be clearly visible. Try for an image where the face is straight forward. White drawing paper A ruler Scissors Glue A pencil

3. Teacher Example Draw the Other Half

4. The three major forms of balance: Asymmetrical balance: where equilibrium is achieved by the balance differences in the art elements within a composition. Symmetrical balance: where the art elements in a composition are balanced in a mirror-like fashion (it does not have to be exact but close). Radial balance: a kind of balance where the elements branch or radiate out from a central point.

5. Portrait A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is dominant.

6. Teacher Example Draw the Other Half

7. Very Good

8. Average

9. Below Average

10. Unacceptable

11. Procedure: Cut the margins off the paper, leaving only the image remaining. Use a ruler and measure the image.

12. Procedure: Your paper is 12”x18” Find the dimensions of your image. Take the width of your image (wide/Side to Side/Left to right) Subtract it from 12” Divide the difference in half (by 2) 12” -Width Answer *That is the new margins for your paper. Measure in from both sides and place marks. Do the same for the Height

13. Procedure: Now line your image up with the marks your measured. Trace around the entire image.

14. Procedure: Use a ruler to draw a vertical line down the center of the face photo. This is a line of symmetry. Cut along the line to create two halves.

15. Procedure: Cut on the center line of the face.

16. Procedure: Glue down one side of the image. In the empty space you will draw the other half. If you are left handed, glue the image on the right. If you are right handed, glue the image on the left.

17. Before drawing, take a moment to observe the face. To figure out where the facial features you'll be drawing should go, use your ruler to measure the horizontal (sideways) and vertical (up-and-down) distances from the photo's specific features to the line of symmetry. For instance, the distance from the bridge of the nose to the inner corner of the eye would be the same on both sides of the face, so measuring from the inner corner to the line of symmetry on one side will tell you how far away the line is to the other inner corner. Everything can be measure within proportions of surroundings. Spacing is important to create a realistic finished piece.

18. With these measurements, you can map out beforehand where the drawn facial features should go by lightly placing pencil marks where you've calculated them to be. Now start drawing the other half of the face. Once you have checked your drawing for accurate spacing, add appropriate value. More successful pieces will show detail and utilize all values within the value scale and texture.

19. Procedure: Use a ruler to draw a vertical line down the center of the face photo. This is a line of symmetry. Cut along the line to create two halves. Glue one side of the image to a plain sheet of paper, with an even border around the image with appropriate space for your drawing. Do not put any glue on the side where you will be drawing. Be sure to leave enough space on the sheet of paper for you to complete the missing half. Before drawing, take a moment to observe the face. To figure out where the facial features you'll be drawing should go, use your ruler to measure the horizontal (sideways) and vertical (up-and-down) distances from the photo's specific features to the line of symmetry. For instance, the distance from the bridge of the nose to the inner corner of the eye would be the same on both sides of the face, so measuring from the inner corner to the line of symmetry on one side will tell you how far away the line is to the other inner corner. Everything can be measure within proportions of surroundings. Spacing is important to create a realistic finished piece. With these measurements, you can map out beforehand where the drawn facial features should go by lightly placing pencil marks where you've calculated them to be. Now start drawing the other half of the face. Once you have checked your drawing for accurate spacing, add appropriate value. More successful pieces will utilize all values within the value scale.