Child Step by Step
Photos of painting

  First (and contrary to the procedure in drawing the woman or the man), do the oval of the head—this is taken from the very top to the bottom of the chin. Ob­serve any characteristic tilt of the head and tilt the oval accordingly. (In children's portraits, by the way, the head is often made life-size, or more nearly so than in the case of adults. Too small a head sometimes has a doll-like look.)
  Second, locate the neck and shoulder line; also the neck line of the dress. As you do this, you will find yourself analyzing your sitter, seeking any characteristics which differentiate this particular child from others. Obviously it is these indi­vidual things which you must see and ultimately record. Is the head short or long? Is the chin rounded or pointed? What of the size, shape and location of the eyes and ears?

Hairlines have here been located. Note the avoidance of fine, definite lines.