The Allure of
the Portrait
Without a doubt, the human portrait is the most frequently drawn and painted subject throughout the history of art. We seem
to be endlessly fascinated with our faces and the faces of others, based on the vast number of self-portraits and portraits that
have been created. Obviously, there are many reasons for this. One of the more significant reasons is that the face provides
visual artists with an enduring form with which to express aspects of the human condition. Being the social creatures that we
are, we can experience another human being in a personal way when that conveys the inner world of another individual.
We are so tuned into the many subtle expressions that the human face can convey that the artist may feel certain that a suc-
cessfully rendered portrait will communicate a particular mood or state of mind to whoever views the work. Viewing a well-
executed portrait that conveys warmth and personality allows us to experience another individual in an up-close and
personal way. It is truly remarkable, when you consider the endless number of faces that exist; we are similar in so many
ways, but at the same time, each one of us is distinctly different. Faces are also fascinating to artists as assemblages of shape,
color, and form. Because of the immense amount of variation from face to face, formulas, such as a set of measurements that
apply to drawing all faces, will not be used here. Instead, you will learn ways of thinking about rendering the human head
and ways of seeing more accurately, to help you achieve a higher level of realism and better likenesses in your portraits.
The drawing on the next page is an excellent example of how a successful portrait allows us to get close to another individ-
ual. The artist has created a very sensitive rendition of his mother, which is made all the more believable because of the
degree of realism in the drawing. We can sense the presence of this woman who has been rendered three-dimensionally
with a subtle light sifting over her form. Her carefully observed gesture and facial expression say so much about her, not only
at the present moment but in the culmination of all the years that have led up to this moment.