How To Draw The Chin And Neck Lesson

When drawing the neck, it's important to remember that the lines are not parallel, even though they seem to be.

The neck is not a pole that attaches the head to the body, it is a movable column that tapers and curves.

There are also differences between male and female necks; males have a more pronounced adam's apple and are generally more heavily muscled, while female necks are more slender and graceful.

Begin by lightly drawing the main shape of the neck and chin, including both the outside lines and lines that indicate flexed tendons or muscles and the collarbone.

Draw carefully to make sure that the angle of the neck is correct; even in the relaxed, forward looking position, the neck is not straight up and down, but tilts forward slightly.

Erase guidelines and begin to replace lines with shading that will show the curves of the neck and chin, always being careful that your strokes follow the curves of the neck and chin.

You may also need to make adjustments to the line of the chin. Try to envision the bones and muscles under the skin as you work; this will help remind you where the lights and darks should fall.

Finish the drawing by blending tones with a stomp or tortillon, picking out highlights with the kneaded eraser and dropping in deeper shadow areas as necessary.

Experiment by drawing the neck from forward, side, and back views, and improve your understanding of the area by drawing from life. 

Have your model turn the neck, look up, and look down to see how different movements affect the neck and chin.

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