Nose
Construct noses as 3D forms with accurate planes, landmarks, angles, and variation across people and views.
What it is
Treat the nose as a 3D wedge attached to the face. Build its bridge, side walls, tip, nostril wings, and underside in perspective. Use light and shadow to show its planes and rounded forms.
Place the main landmarks: the bony bridge, the transition from bone to cartilage, the tip cartilage, the cartilage forming the nostril wings, and the septum between the nostrils. Group these into larger light and shadow shapes, with small accents for nostrils and creases.
Account for differences in length, bridge height, nostril shape, and angle. Keep nose designs consistent in front, 3/4, and profile views, with clean connections to the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip.
Why it matters
Nose structure anchors the center of the face and helps connect the forehead, cheeks, and mouth. Weak control can flatten the face, misplace the nostrils, detach the tip or bridge, and make lighting or expressions harder to read.
You can check it when
- ✓Turn a simple nose block-in through front, 3/4, profile, upshot, and downshot views. It remains attached to the head in each view.
- ✓Place the bridge, bone-to-cartilage transition, tip, nostril wings, and connections to the cheeks and upper lip consistently.
- ✓Draw nostrils with minimal lines or shapes that align with the nose in angled views.
- ✓Design long, short, hooked, button, wide, and narrow noses. Keep each type consistent across expressions and head turns.