On the front cover:

On the back cover:

On the title page:
The Fisherman's Daughter, Philippe Faraut, 2002.
Creating the Skin of the Neck, Philippe Faraut. 2003.
Creating the Wrinkles of the Eyes, Philippe Faraut. 2003.
Mask of a Smile, Philippe Faraut. 2003.
Mask of Disgust, Philippe Faraut. 2003.
Mask of Fear, Philippe Faraut. 2003.
Mutiny, in progress, Philippe Faraut. 2004.
POR T R A I T S C U L PT I N G
C opyright 2004 by Philippe and C harisse Faraut
First published in 2004 by PC F S tudios, I nc.
A ll rights reserved. N o part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any meansgraphic, electronic,
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systemswithout written
permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2004093850
Publisher's Cataloging-in-Publication
(Provided by Quality Books, Inc.)
Faraut, Philippe.
Portrait sculpting : anatomy &expressions in clay /
Philippe &C harisse Faraut. 1st ed.
p. cm.
I ncludes bibliographical references and index.
L C C N 2004093850
I S BN -10: 0-9755065-0-1
I S BN -13: 978-0-9755065-0-9
1. Head in art. 2. Modeling. 3. S culpture-
T echnique. I . Faraut, C harisse. I I . T itle.
N B1932.F372004 731'.74
QB104-200263
First Edition, 2004
Printed and bound in the U nited S tates of A merica on acid-free paper
Second Printing, 2006
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Anatomy & Expressions In Clay
P H I L I P P E & C H A R I S S E F A R A U T
PC F
S T U D I OS , I N C .
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
The Skull
frontal bone
line
f
orbital emit)-
m andible
B O N E S O F T H E S K U L L
A n understanding of the bone structure and muscle
masses of the human head is the f oundation of portrait
sculpture. T here are tremendous dif f erences between
skulls, depending on gender, age and race. I n general
the male skull is larger than the f emale skull; the jaw
is squarer; the chin, more pronounced; the brow ridge,
more prominent; and the f orehead, more sloping. M ale
teeth are of ten a bit larger. S ome of these dif f erences
can easily be seen in the diagram below which compares
a male and a f emale skull. T he photos on the f acing
page illustrate the surprising diversity f ound in skulls
f rom various regions.
Recognizing these dif f erences and examining three-
dimensional models with this in mind f acilitates
comparative study and the ref inement of observational
skills required to successfully capture the shape and
features of the sculpted model.
T he actual sculpting of dif f erent skulls reinforces this
knowledge and develops the ability to build volumes
based on observation only and is highly recommended.
T his chapter focuses on this type of exercise.
T he less familiar we are with a shape, the easier it is to
12 B Y F A RA U T
duplicate it in three-dimension. T his is because we are
forced to f ocus on f orm and volumes themselves rather
than on preconceived ideas of what the shape should
be. F or the majority of us, the intricate shapes of a
skull, when observed closely, are surprisingly unf amiliar,
making this exercise a very productive experience. T o
take f ull advantage of this exercise, a three-dimensional
and anatomically correct model is needed in order to
accurately see every nuance of the skull - something a
photo or a drawing cannot provide. Casts of human
skulls are available to purchase. S uppliers are listed in
A ppendix B at the end of this book.
M A L E A N D F E M A L E S K U L L CO M P A RI S O N
P eruvian M ale S kull
A ustralian M ale S kull
^
A f rican M ale S kull
E uropean F emale S kull
13
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
Demonstration 1: Modeling a Skull
1. A ball of newspaper is wrapped and taped around the
dowel to form the core of the sculpture. T he newspaper
will absorb some of the moisture from the clay, making
the center more firm and stable. T ape is kept away
from the dowel so the sculpture will be able to rotate on
the armature.
2. A n even layer of clay is built around the paper.
3. T he ball is rounded with a metal scraper.
14 PO RT RA I T SCULPT I N G BY FA RA UT
4. A rectangular piece of clay is positioned to create the 5. T he clay is then pulled back on each side to form the
volume of the forehead. temporal planes.
6. A coil of clay is applied on the top of the head and
shaped to define the profile of the cranium.
7. Volume is then built on each side.
15
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
8. T o build the volume of the mandible, a horseshoe-
shaped piece of clay is wrapped around the base and
flattened on each side to form the planes of the ramus.
9. T he depression between the mandible and the
foundation is filled and smoothed, preparing the volume
for the maxilla.
10. T he orbital cavities' location is determined by
observation of the model and measurement with
calipers.
1 6 P O R T R A I T S C U L P T I N G B Y F A R A U T
11. T he zygomatic arch is a bone originating from the
edges of the orbital cavity, stretching to the external
auditory meatus.
12. T o define the zygomatic bone (cheekbone) and the upper part of the maxilla, a depression is created under the
orbital cavity.
17
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
13. T he nasal cavity is carved out with a wooden tool,
leaving a ridge at the center called the vomer.
14. T he width of the ramus needs to be measured and
indicated before pushing in the clay on both sides to
define the volume in the back of the maxilla.
15. T he zygomatic arch is suspended in its center,
leaving space for the temporalis which covers the
temporal bone and connects with the coronoid process
of the mandible.
18 P O R T R A I T S C U L P T I N G B Y F A R A U T
16. T he mastoid process is a projection of bone behind
the ear. I t begins to form only after the age of two.
T he external auditory meatus is a hole in the bone just
behind the temporal mandibular joint.
17. T he teeth are added one at a time paying special
attention to their symmetry.
18. T he planes of the temporal bone are refined. T hese
also define the temporal lines.
19. A fter refining all the volumes with loop tools, a
bristle brush is used to blend them together.
19
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
20. T he teeth are first refined with a stiff brush. A soft brush is used for the
final texture.
21. A coarse sponge is used to
refine the final shape.
22. A soft sponge is used to create the surface texture. T he cranial sutures
are engraved with a thin metal tool.
20 P O R T R A I T S C U L P T I N G B Y F A R A U T
21
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
The Muscles
depressor l a b i i i n f eri ori s
depressor a n gul i ori s
mema l i s
M U S C L E S O F T H E F A C E
T he function of the muscles throughout the body is
always to contract, or pull, usually one bone toward
another, creating for example, a movement of rotation
around a joint. With the exception of the masseter and
the temporalis, most of the muscles of the face have
the peculiarity of not connecting one bone to another.
I nstead, they attach at one end, directly or indirectly, to
the skull, and at the other, into the skin or into another
muscle connected to the skin. F acial muscle functions
are discussed in more detail in C hapter 7.
I n the face, the pulling action from a fixed origin to
an area very close to the skin creates depressions and
folds that are the signatures of different expressions.
F urthermore, the repeated action of some muscles is
partly responsible for slow, permanent changes to both
the surface of the skin and the shape of underlying
bone. F or example, a person with the habit of chewing
on only one side of the mouth will have a strengthening
of the masseter on that side, giving it more volume. I t
will also, over time, create some degree of distortion in
the mandible, pulling it toward the same side. C areful
observation will also reveal thickening of the temporalis.
T he next demonstration is designed to illustrate the
origin and placement of the major facial muscles.
F acial muscles, having very little mass, can be applied
without the help of a three-dimensional model if none
is available, because they closely follow the shape of the
skull. A good anatomy book can be sufficient.
Demonstration 2: Modeling Facial Muscles
1. T he fan shaped temporalis muscle attaches to
the temporal bone of the cranium, passes under the
zygomatic arch, and connects to the coronoid process of
the mandible. T hin coils of clay following the direction
of the fibers are applied and then flattened.
2. T he fibrous texture of the muscle is rendered with a
bristle brush.
3. O ther muscles
are applied one
at a time in the
following order:
levator anguli oris,
levator labii alaeque
nasi, levator labii
and the orbicularis
oris.
22 P O R T R A I T S C U L P T I N G B Y F A R A U T
23
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
4. N ext, the mentalis, depressor anguli oris, depressor labii, buccinator, masseter, zygomaticus minor, zygomaticus
major and risorius are added.
2 4 P O R T R A I T S C U L P T I N G B Y F A R A U T
5. T he frontalis, orbicularis oculi and eyeball are placed.
6. S mall coils of clay create the volumes of the eyelids.
7. T he eyeball is an average of
twenty-five millimeters in diameter
and is centered in the orbital cavity.
T he outer point of the cornea is
tangent to a line drawn from the
center of the superior and inferior
edges of the orbit.
2 5
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
9. T he parotid gland folds around the ramus.
8. T he placement of the corrugator, building of the
cartilage of the nose, and the addition of the compressor
naris and procerus are shown above.
10. T he insertion of one muscle into others is denned
with a stiff brush.
2 6 I A I T S C U L P T I N G B Y F A R A U T 27
A N A T O M Y & A G I N G
The Neck
suprastemal notch
cla\icular head of the sternocleidomastoid
M U S C L E S O F T H E N E C K
T he most visible bones of the neck are the clavicle and
the sternumin the front. T he scapula, the seventh
cervical vertebra, and the first thoracic vertebra are the
most visible bones of the upper back.
T he most prominent muscles of the neck are
the sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius. T he
sternocleidomastoid originates from the sternum and
from the medial third of the clavicle and inserts into
the mastoid process and the superior nuchal line of the
occipital bone. T he tendons of the sternal attachment
of the sternocleidomastoid form the two lateral ridges
of the suprasternal notch.
T he trapezius is a large muscle that covers the shoulder,
the upper part of the back and the back of the neck. I t
originates from the superior nuchal line at the base of
the skull, from the ligamentum nuchea and from the
spines of the twelve thoracic vertebrae. I t inserts into
the lateral third of the clavicle and the upper border of
the spine of the scapula.
28 T R A I T S C U L P T I N G B Y F A R A U T
ligamentum nuchae
spine of the scapula
f irst
thoracic
vertebra
M U S C L E S O F T H E U P P E R B A C K
29