Page:Drawing for Beginners.djvu/87

 man's neck very strong, very muscular, and consequently rather thick.

As with all other parts of the human body, necks exist in every variety&mdash;short necks, long necks, thick, thin, muscular, strong, feeble, and fat; but, and the fact is worth noting, the base of the neck where it joins the body is always its thickest part.

With this slight introduction to the general proportion and shape of the head, we can next turn our attention to the face and the features.

One hears many curious remarks from young artists; for instance: "I simply love drawing people, but I can never draw a face." This is by no means an uncommon experience. Another equally frank statement is often heard: "Faces! Rather! They are simply topping! But I can't draw hands and things!"

And there we are!

A curious world it would be if young artists were confronted with embodiments of their own drawings! Imagine the shock of meeting a gentleman in plus fours with no face but a turnip like smudge, or a lovely languishing lady with exquisite shingled head and nothing more substantial than a few slight lines indicating a body&mdash;and those quite wrong!

Believe me, it does not do to run away with such ideas. We may say things so often that in time they seem to weave a spell.

A young and most promising artist-friend of mine drew faces admirably, and refused to draw anything else. She would not draw a hand or a foot. And in time it really seemed as if she could not&mdash;which of course was absurd. Anyhow, to this day she draws exquisite faces, and the rest of her drawings would shame the veriest beginner. She is an artist&mdash;spoilt.

If we take our subjects one by one, and make our progress step by step, we may be slow, but in due time we shall 'arrive.'

And as an excellent aid to our own home studies let us provide ourselves with a hand-glass or small mirror. This