Help me faces!

[Quofalcon]

I've always had this problem (and I know others share it) with imbalanced twisted faces when drawn facing viewer. It's been an obsession lately to try and try improving this. I'm reaching out for some help on this, if anyone here can lend something.
Here I've just sketched this out on photoshop this past hour after hitting some ideas, inspiring me to draw and wanting to express something between spirituality and science fiction.

http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f391/xanry/?action=view&current=Faceroughsketch.jpg

I left it in its rough state to let y'all see where it was going. I've used grids, done the mirroring/horizontal flip and such but this doesn't solve my issue. Lemme hear your suggestions! Thank you.

[rpace]

It looks like your construction lines are very sloppy and are the real reason everything is off. Spend real time on the foundation of the drawing and you should be better off. Really make sure those lines go where you need them to go; after a while (years) of really making an effort to get the start of the drawing right you should be able to skimp a little bit as your eye gets sharper.

Half-ass it and you'll never get any better.

~R

[riceface]

I Agree With Rpace

[DigitalShade]

Are you trying to draw the head tilted downward or straight on? The way your construction lines are it appears to be tilted downward. You're are going to get foreshortening with this angle. I'd recommend sitting in front of a mirror or utilizing a quickcam and observe how things line up when you assume a similar pose. The head is three dimensional so its construction lines will move according to how the head is rotated or tilted. Remember that the bones are solid and do not change they merely tilt or rotate. So you'll need to be aware of how this affects your construction lines. Also make sure you have a solid construction before placing the features or you'll be forever redrawing them to get them right. As Rpace said over time you will naturally do this in your head.

[TASmith]

I'd try drawing realistically first and then worrying about cartoons - they're much easier once you understand the real anatomy.

S.M sent me a link awhile ago for Nathan Fowkes, and I've been using his work as a bible to learn from:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pbZw476tEsE/Rz0E0G9udoI/AAAAAAAAAgA/tLq4Ro0DW2w/s1600-h/mark-value_page.jpg

[Quofalcon]

Digital you are right, the head was intended to be tilted down, and meant to have a realistic appearance more than cartoony but that may be from doing so much of that over time. Whenever I draw in various angles aside from straight-on things seem to fall together smoothly. Drawing straight on I seem to have symmetrical issues; my eyes/brain doesn't register the measurments and or balance correctly.
Might have to do with this metal pole sticking outta the side of my head....

Kidding.

[Alex Chow]

I'm no master of faces but one really useful idea to consider is to work off the bone structure. It just makes sense as every feature starts on the bones, and it is very apparent on the face. Draw the shape of the cranium , the jaw, and where the eye sockets are (and other little markings you deem important). These shapes vary a lot depending on the person, angle, etc. which means you have to study a lot of people but if you get these base structures correct, the face will look right. Even cartoonish faces work off these basic shapes but slightly (or very!) modified.

[armando]

Keep your head up straight and draw on a vertical surface, to take full advantage of your sense of balance.
I've started speculating that picture balance can be improved by working on your physical balance: standing on one leg, balancing with your eyes closed, practicing dance moves. I think that sense carries over into when you're drawing.

[Quofalcon]

"Keep your head up straight and draw on a vertical surface, to take full advantage of your sense of balance.
I've started speculating that picture balance can be improved by working on your physical balance: standing on one leg, balancing with your eyes closed, practicing dance moves. I think that sense carries over into when you're drawing."

That's strange! I'll have to give those a go! Anything that can help me get a better sense of it.