Technical head anatomy/drawing question

[YuZa]

Hey I'm a bit confused and thought I'd ask for help.

When you are drawing the head from the front view you'll see the "face" and get the width of the head. But when you start turning the head the 2 dimensional width of the head on the paper changes. What is the "technical rule" how much you add of the back of the head to show when you turn the head certain amount?

Thank you for your help.

[panchosimpson]

draw the head by using a box in perspective, run diagonals from corner to corner on the side plane of the box (it'll look like an x) to find the middle...place the ear there, the remainder in the back is back of the head, let me know if this isn't clear enough.

[YuZa]

Hey panchosimpson, thanks for your reply. I see what you mean... using a box doesn't seem to work for me that well. I like doing it using oval shapes. Just seems to work better for me.

Would you be able explain how to apply the technique when using ovals? See the attached image? This might sound like a ridiculous question but for some reason I can't figure out the connection with the box technique to apply it to the oval shape unless it is the way illustrated below below.

Thank you.

[panchosimpson]

i see that you're still online, hold on a sec, I'm making you a diagram :)

[panchosimpson]

using the box isn't really a matter of personal preference or comes naturally, it takes some getting used to...the problem is that you're thinking in 2d, what you're drawing is not an oval, it's an egg (i.e. an elongated sphere, a 3d form, not shape). If you square out the corners of the sphere, you get a box, likewise, if you round out the box you get a sphere.

What you can also do is draw the head with a sphere and an jaw like thing in front, then add the box on top, and then use the diagonals to find the middle

[YuZa]

Hey Panchosimpson:

Thanks for your tips. I see what you mean. I'll put this in work and try to learn how to see the box without drawing it and learn to see the head in 3D.

I've been watching Glenn Vilppu's anatomy DVD's and they are a big help but couldn't find this subject taught in the DVD's so much appreciated for the help!