Focus on the "T-zone" (eyes and nose). In stylization, you might enlarge the eyes for expression or simplify the nose to a single shadow plane, but the spatial relationship between them must remain consistent.
Week 7 — Composition & Cropping
Use the largest brush possible for 80% of the assignment, saving fine detail brushes exclusively for the final 20% of the timeline. Focus on the "T-zone" (eyes and nose)
Whether working in oils, acrylics, or digital software like Procreate and Photoshop, your mark-making defines your unique style. Hard vs. Soft Brushes Whether working in oils, acrylics, or digital software
Best for sketching, blocking out solid shapes, and clean edges. Regularly step back from your canvas or flip
Regularly step back from your canvas or flip your digital canvas horizontally. This tricks your brain into seeing the image fresh, instantly revealing errors in symmetry or proportion.
Every successful stylized portrait begins with a solid understanding of the human head. Even the most "cartoony" or abstract portraits rely on the underlying structure of the skull and muscle groups. Mastering the or Reilly Abstraction allows an artist to maintain consistency from different angles. When you understand how the jaw hinges or where the brow line sits, your exaggerations feel intentional rather than accidental. The Art of Simplification