Building the Head: An Intuitive Guide to the Reilly Method for Face Drawing

When you’re sketching in your sketchbook, the goal is often to capture not just what you see, but the underlying structure—the way light hits a cheekbone, the angle of the jaw, the curve of the nose. For those of us who prefer the satisfying scratch of graphite over the infinite scroll, mastering figure drawing means understanding how to build a three-dimensional form on a two-dimensional page. Today, we’re looking at a fantastic, fluid approach to head construction: the Reilly Method.

If you’ve ever wrestled with the complexity of the human skull, you might have heard of the Loomis method. While that approach is foundational, the Reilly Method often feels more intuitive and adaptable for many artists. It’s all about using simple, overlapping circles and ovals to map the major planes of the face, treating the head like a collection of interconnected, simple volumes.

This method isn't a rigid rulebook; think of it as a structural scaffold. By mapping out these basic shapes—the large oval for the chin, the smaller circles for the eye sockets, and the specific ovals that guide the nose and mouth—you establish the crucial planes. You're essentially figuring out where the face is turning, which is key whether you're tackling a frontal portrait or a dramatic three-quarter view.

If you want to walk through the process step-by-step, watch this beginner-friendly guide:

Mastering the Planes: Circles, Ovals, and Angles

The beauty of the Reilly technique lies in its simplicity. Instead of getting bogged down in complex measurements, you are connecting the key features with fluid, foundational shapes. The instructor walks us through how these simple geometric forms—like drawing a curve from the side of the chin that passes under the eye, or defining the area where the jaw meets the skull—show the major shifts in the face's plane. This foundational understanding is what separates a good sketch from one that truly has depth and life.

Remember that even when you start with basic graphite line work, the ultimate goal is to move beyond the lines. Once the structure is solid, you can start adding the details—the colored iris, the delicate curve of the lip, the subtle ridge of the supraorbital torus. And finally, you can move into shading, using value to make those planes pop and give the portrait its final, three-dimensional glow.

From Sketch to Studio: Your Next Steps

Mastering facial structure takes practice, and that’s where the community comes in. The Rogue Artists network was built for exactly this: getting believers into rooms with other believers, sharing tips, and getting paint under our fingernails together. Don't let this knowledge just live on a screen.

Ready to take this skill from a YouTube tutorial into your own sketchbook? We encourage you to find an Art Angel near you. Whether you’re looking for a local drawing workshop, a ceramics class, or just a quiet spot to practice your charcoal figure drawing, connecting with a local group is the best way to improve. If you’ve found a favorite spot, consider listing your studio with us! Let’s make the physical world as inspiring as your palette.