One way to precisely depict the human head from many perspectives is using the loomis method, which is a grid-based sketching technique. Andrew Loomis, an American illustrator, created this method in the 1940s. Building a geometric grid and positioning face characteristics inside it are the two primary components of the Loomis approach. Because it provides a feeling of structure and correctness, this method is great for novices who are just starting to draw faces. Nevertheless, this approach could be too rigid for more seasoned artists.

Regardless, the Loomis Method remains valuable for comprehending the interrelationships of different face features. Also, by adjusting the grid, artists can play around with proportions and experiment with different face traits. In order to help you draw human faces more accurately, this tutorial will go over the fundamentals of the Loomis Method.

How is the Loomis technique for building a skull?

The loomis method builds the human head from simple forms and measurable landmarks at every angle. The approach divides a ball into four equal portions with two lines and places facial characteristics using the dimensions.

Beginning with the Face and Head Anatomy

It would be wise to familiarize ourselves with the human skull’s structure before delving into the loomis method. The six most noticeable bones that make up the skull are the mandible, frontal, parietal, zygomatic, nasal, maxilla, and occipital bones.
• Located in the very front of the head, the frontal bone is the biggest part of the skull.

• A skull’s roof and sides are formed by the parietal bones, which are actually two bones that fuse together.

• The zygomatic bone encircles the space within the skull that houses the eyes, the orbital cavity.

• Behind the nose, between the zygomatic bones, and beneath the frontal bone is where you may find the nasal bone.

• The lower half of the nose and the region above the mouth are comprised of the cartilaginous maxilla bone.

• Underneath the parietal bone—just behind the ears—are the occipital bones.
• The bottom part of the face, including the jaw and chin, is called the mandible. Because men tend to have theirs emphasized in media to make them seem more manly, this part of the body is crucial when drawing male characters.
Keep in mind that the head is not exactly spherical before proceeding with the creation of the head. If you want your drawings to look realistic, you must grasp this. You can improve your artistic abilities by studying human anatomy.

Making a Head Drawing with the loomis method

We will now go on to the loomis method now that we have a basic understanding of the anatomy of the head and face. Accurately measuring the face begins with sketching the grid. Detailed instructions for drawing the front view of the head are as follows:

Step 1: sketch a rectangle

The first step in creating the grid is to create a rectangle that will serve as its border. You can see the face’s contours reflected in this rectangle. The proportions of your subject’s face will dictate the optimal rectangle size. Nevertheless, in order to achieve a uniform appearance, the rectangle’s length should be approximately 1.5 times more than its breadth.

Second Step: Separate the Six Corners of the Rectangle

After you’ve drawn the rectangle, add a vertical line down the center to split it in half lengthwise. The face’s axis will be it. The next step is to divide the rectangle into six little squares by drawing two horizontal lines at equal spacing.
In the upper part, you can see the forehead; in the middle, you can see the eyes and nose; and in the lower part, you can see the lips and chin. In the center, but outside of the grid, are where you’ll find the ears. You can use this grid to precisely position your face features and check that their proportions are accurate.

Step 3: Split the squares in the middle and bottom parts into six groups

Next, divide the middle and bottom squares in half lengthwise by drawing a vertical line through their centers. After that, draw three horizontal lines within each square at equal intervals to further separate them. Each initial square will be divided into six smaller rectangles as a result of this. You may make a more lifelike head by precisely positioning the facial features with these little rectangles.

Step 4: Sketch the Crown of the Crown

Create an arch by following the lines connecting the mid-squares to the upper squares’ center outer sides. A general outline of the temporal muscle will result from this. Next, make a second arc that goes from the upper-left corner of the first square all the way to its center-top side. Repeat with the square in the upper right corner, following the example in the image above. Construct the crown of the head by joining the two arcs outside the grid.

Step 5: Draw a Line for Your Eyebrows

The next step, after sketching the outline of the skull, is to draw the brow line. To draw the eyebrow line, start in the center and draw an arc. This arch will begin at the bottom left corner of the upper half-rectangle and go all the way to the top of the midline that separates the face in half. The arch will next descend to meet the bottom right corner of the upper rectangle within the right square of the middle section. That way, your prominent brow line will stand out.

Step 6: Figure the nose

The next step, after drawing the brow line, is to find the nose. Make a quarter of a circle by drawing two vertical lines across the center’s inner rectangles. The nose’s contours are defined by these lines. At the intersection of the axis line and the top horizontal line that divides the mid-section squares will be the nose’s highest position. The base of the nose will be the horizontal line that separates the middle and lower parts. To indicate the nose’s tip, you can draw a tiny circle. The exact spot where the middle and bottom parts meet the center line is where this circle needs to be positioned. You can use this dimension to outline the nose.

Step 7: Draw the eyes

In order to find the eyes, begin by drawing a circle in the middle section’s left square, approximately at the intersection of the first horizontal line and the vertical line. The eye’s iris will look like this. A person’s eye width is equal to three times their iris width. Hence, for the other two-thirds, draw two lines perpendicular to it, using it as a measure.
Afterwards, make a lower arc and an upper arc above the circle. Where you have drawn the eye’s perimeter will serve as the terminus for both arcs. Keep in mind that the upper arc will have a more pronounced curve than the lower one. To find the right eye, repeat the process on the other side.

Step 8: Identify the Chin and the Mouth

Moving on to the lower part, let’s examine the mouth. In the bottom area, draw attention to the squares’ core vertical lines and the portion of the first horizontal line that divides them. Separate the bottom section’s center two rectangles horizontally into thirds. Likewise, split the bottom section’s center two rectangles in half horizontally.
The grid is prepared, so we can go on to drawing the chin and mouth. The bottom half of the middle rectangle will be used for the bottom lip, while the bottom half will be drawn in the bottom area of the first rectangle. The chin will be positioned in the central middle rectangles of the lower part, namely in the bottom half.

Step 9: Locating the Jawline

Finding the jawline follows the completion of the lips and chin. To achieve this, draw two vertical lines inside the bottom section’s inner rectangles. The chin, which will protrude from the grid to a small degree, will have its border defined by these lines. Begin at the outside of the chin and work your way up to the top corner of the bottom rectangle in the center, following a slightly curved line. The bottom portion of the cheekbones is defined by this.
Return to the beginning of the chin and draw a new line, this time aiming for the lower inner corner of the upper rectangle. Going higher, you’ll eventually reach the same spot where the cheekbone meets the bone.

Also read:

• Signature works – Indranil Banerjee artist
• Tradition & folk art by artist Indranil Banerjee
• Evolution of drawing art
• Mastering human anatomy
• Lippan art design

Comparison of the Loomis and Reilly Methods

If you want your drawings of people’s faces to look realistic, try using one of two methods: the Loomis Method or the Reilly Method.

Watch: loomis method tutorial

The artist used a geometric grid in the loomis method to faithfully depict the dimensions of the face from every viewpoint. The artist proceeds to build a lifelike portrait by positioning facial characteristics within the grid. Designing lines and shapes and controlling values are central to the Reilly Method. In this case, artists build a face out of basic forms and then add mid-tone values to make it more refined.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches; the artist must choose the one that best suits their drawing style. When it comes to shape design, the Reilly Method promotes imagination, whereas the Loomis Method gives a firm feeling of correctness. The combination of the two approaches yields very lifelike portraits.

Conclusion

If you are a beginner and find drawing heads to be a bit of a challenge, the loomis method is an excellent starting point. It lays the groundwork for the principles that govern the creative process. In order to measure and segment the skull, this technique makes use of a grid. In this way, newcomers can work on their facial features and proportions until they discover what works best for them. On top of that, learning the structure of the face is the first step in the Loomis method. In order to make convincing characters, this method shows gaining knowledge of about simple shape and form.