3Structuringthe FeaturesBuilding a Likeness in Line...Eyes The eye socket or orbital cavity has a significant influence on the structure of the eye. Its important to understand where the borders of the eye sockets are in relation to the eyes and the eyelids.Its commonly thought that the eyebrow marks the top of the orbital cavity, but it actually sits well above it on the frontal bone. Instead, the top of the eye socket is marked by the fold of the upper eyelid, where the eyelid

rolls up and under the superciliary arch.

The bottom of the eye socket is marked by the infra orbital furrow a visible form boundary that moves downward and laterally under the eye.

This means that the eyeball actually sits much higher in the eye socket than is commonly thought, part of it being tucked up and under the superciliary arch.

The Shape of the EyelidsThe eye is not symmetrical. Its not shaped like a football or an almond. Rather, it is asymmetrical across both the vertical and horizontal axes.

When we view the model at eye-level, the upper lid usually has a more pronounced curve than the lower lid because it is rolled up and over the top of the eyeball further than the lower lid is rolled down.

The eye is also asymmetrical from side to side, with the apex of the upper lid being somewhat medial, while the apex of the lower lid is lateral. This is due in part to the influence of the cornea on the upper lid.

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The Shape of the IrisThe iris is perfectly circular. When seen from the side, however, that circle appears elliptical.

Every ellipse has a major axis and a minor axis that determine the proportion of the ellipse and its angular orientation. Its helpful to imagine the iris as the top of a cylinder inside the eyeball. The minor axis will run parallel to the cylinders midline, while the major axis will cross it at 90 degrees.

The iris also has depth. The pupil is set deeper in the eye than the outer ring of the iris, making it somewhat bucket shaped, or like lampshade or funnel.

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Nose

The 2 Halves: Nasal bones vs. cartilageBroadly speaking, the nose may be divided into 2 halves, one above the other. The upper half is made up of the nasal bones which project downward and outward from the brow ridge. The lower half is made up of the nasal cartilages and the fatty nasal wings on either side.

The Shape of the NostrilsDrawing the nostrils often presents difficulties because the tendency is to focus too much on the opening of the nostril itself, and not enough on the forms that border it. The nostril is essentially a hole in the nose, an absence of form, a void. But its not possible to draw a void we can only draw what surrounds it so it makes more sense to focus on the structures surrounding the nostril. If we draw those correctly, the nostril will look correct by default.

The Nasal Wing and SeptumThe nasal wing is wedge shaped and defines the lateral edge of the nostril. It helps to remember that its form doesnt simply stop at the bottom of the nose, but rather appears to turn upward and into the nostril for a short distance.

Similarly, the nasal septum separating the nostrils turns up and into the nose, attaching to a small bony hook at the base of the nasal cavity called the Anterior Nasal Spine.

The Shadow EdgeOnce the major structures of the nose have been placed, line in the shadow edges along the cartilage and wing, then lightly hatch the shadow. This can be helpful in distinguishing the top plane of the nose from the bottom and the side. It helps to give the nose volume, and prepares it for the full light and shade development later on.

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Mouth

The Muzzle and the modified centerlineThe lower third of the face projects forward considerably. We tend not to realize this because the nose projects so much further that the mouth appears recessed by comparison, but in fact, the mouth usually projects further forward than the forehead.

Add to this the fullness of the lips, each with planes facing different directions, and the center line becomes quite complicated. Observe the orientation of the various planes in the mouth region and apply a center line that conforms to them. It will help you understand the 3-dimensionality of this complex area.

Marginal vs. Peripheral LipThe lips each have two broad areas. The marginal lip is the familiar red lip portion, while the peripheral lip is the area beyond the marginal lip but within the cheeks and the chin.

Structure of the Upper LipThe upper lip is made up of three formsa central keystone shaped form, flanked on either side by two long triangular wings. The central form faces downward on average, and the wings twist on their trajectory toward the corners, eventually turning inside the mouth.

Structure of the Lower LipThe lower lip is made up of two more rounded forms on either side of the center line. Somewhat ovoid, these forms have long tapering tails laterally that transit toward the corners of the mouth.

NodesThe mouth doesnt taper to a point at the corners. Instead, the lips are eclipsed by a full, somewhat bean-shaped form just lateral to the corner of the mouth. Sometimes referred to as a node, the anatomical term for this structure is Modiolus. It is oriented at a strong diagonal, pointing upward medially, and is important for structuring the transition from the mouth to the cheek.

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DominanceWhen the mouth is closed, the division between the lips is curved but in a particular way depending on which forms of the lips are dominant. Centrally, the keystone form of the upper lip is dominant, and the curve of the division between the lips curves downward in the middle. Laterally, the ovoid forms of the lower lip are dominant and push the curve of the lips upward. Further toward the corners of the mouth, the upper lip becomes dominant again, giving the line between the lips a slight downward trajectory. At the very edges, the modioli are dominant, truncating the mouth diagonally at the corners.

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EarConchaThe Concha of the ear is the bowl-like basin of the ear think of the concha as being like a sink, and the ear canal is the drain. The concha is quite deep and is very often in shadow. Its shape is prominent, but like the nostrils, is defined more by the boundaries of the forms surrounding it than anything else.

HelixThe Helix is a quasi-cylindrical form that spirals out of the ear from the floor of the concha, up over the top of the ear where it becomes the ears outer boundary, and then down the posterior edges, eventually merging with the lobe.

The form of the helix is compounded its not simply a cylinder, but rather a string of subtle forms, some fuller and some more slender than others. Overall, however, the curving structure of the helix has a clear active and passive side. The passive side is the outer edge, where the form is more drawn-out around the outer curve of the ear. The active side is the inner edge, which is compressed and manifests a number of more punctuated kinks on its trajectory around the ear.

AntihelixThe Antihelix is in some ways the opposite of the helix. Where the helix starts high (inside the concha) and ends low just above the lobe, the antihelix starts low near the lobe and ends high. The helix spirals out of the ear, while the anithelix moves into the ear, passing underneath the helix near the top.

The antihelix also has an active and passive side where the compressed contour is more punctuated with discrete corners, while the drawn-out side is more fluid in its curvature.

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Tragus, Anti-Tragus, Tragal NotchThe tragus is a squarish or triangular flap of cartilage on the anterior edges of the ear, just forward of the concha. It hovers over the ear canal, serving as a kind of barn door to the opening. The tragus is what you push into your ears when you plug your ears. The posterior boundary of the tragus embodies the anterior boundary of the concha.

The antitragus is directly posterior to the tragus and manifests as a small cartilaginous nodule at the base of the antihelix. Its lower boundary also marks the top of the ear lobe. The antitragus is a significant landmark on the ear, often with a visible light effect or shadow, and helps define the lower boundary of the concha.

The tragal notch is a pronounced space between the tragus and antitragus, usually with a downward, anterior orientation it points forward and to the floor.

Lobe (12:30)The ear lobe is the soft, rounded, fleshy portion of the ear that hangs at the bottom of the ear. Being made of fat, the lobe is the only part of the outer ear that is not cartilage. Its rounded shape mirrors the roundness of the helix above, although much smaller. Its forward boundary may be fused with the jaw line in some individuals, although not on Nicole.

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