For what it’s worth here’s a peak into my obsessive doodling of heads. If I’m on the phone or listening in to a conference call, these disembodied people will inevitably appear on whatever piece of paper is in arms reach. Sometimes, a head or an idea will compel me to add a body. Next thing you know a character will emerge…
Mediums
graphite pencils, colored pencils, brush pens, fountain pens, Micron pens, alcohol markers, guoache, inkwash, white gel pens
If i’ve got a pencil in my hand there’s a 90% probability that I’m doodling heads. Thousands and thousands of heads. I have a few go-to styles that seem to show up more naturally when I’m using a certain medium. I find the Loomis method the most helpful when I’m describing a more realistic head, but I love breaking from the ideal proportions – normal people and/or caricatures are way more interesting to draw.
Here’s a sampling of some sketches I did during a workshop I took with Stephen Silver(← HIGHLY RECOMMEND!). You can see how the sketches gain clarity in with a stronger silhouette (negative space is your friend) and characters get more interesting as I push the shapes. Drawing “through the characters also keeps things looking more dimensional and believable. Check out the finished image on my Illustration page