5 Mistakes Every Artist Makes When Making Faces - Art Fundamentals

[@leecaste]

I think people tend to subdivide too early and get lost in the detail without having the basic volumes right, also in 3D you can zoom extremely close which makes this even worse. My advice would be to stick with an uncomfortable low resolution as much as you can and sculpt at a higher distance than you would like (you have to see the general shape, not the details), subdivide when you can't enhance the sculpt any further at the level you're at. A good trick is also to have a basic shader and change the angle of the light frequently instead of tumbling the view so often, shadows give all the information so you should have the light control gizmo always present in your workspace, playing with the angle of the light instead of tumbling the view may feel weird at the beginning but it helps a lot. Matcaps look cool and they may seem helpful specially if you change them from time to time but they also can fool you.

[@FlippedNormals]

Hi - brilliant advice here. You're spot on in all of it, and I couldnt agree more. Thanks for your contribution! /Henning

[@not-morgendorffer9520]

That's very true, yeah. But also - when I just started learning 3d sculpting, I was so afraid to make that 'subdividing too early' mistake that I actually fell into another trap which was sticking to a much too low resolution for too long and then start panicking that the sculpture looks like crap until I would finally subdivide more and then start adding and smoothing and it would be like 'Oh, okay, so it actually doesn't look like crap and I'm not hopeless, I just need to change the subdivision levels on time' :D

[@callmedeno]

Great point dasha, I often have gotten stuck in that position! @@not-morgendorffer9520

[@LannCarvas]

I know i have made this mistake several time lol, just get too excited when sculpting. Learning to real it in...

[@mariamunie0696]

Now this is master advice right here!! Had forgotten about that trick, thanks

[@MrBmxerFTW]

The conversational style of your videos are what set them apart from other tutorials, great video guys

[@patriknordberg1259]

A bit reminiscent of old 3D buzz. RIP Jason.

[@saikopiratos]

yeah but what makes me cringe is when one of them explains something and the other says "mhm" xD like it makes his advice more helpful haha

[@crystalbernard9488]

I really liked this video, because instead of it being for the absolute beginner, it is for artists like me who have come a long way but still have problems with the face not looking completely right, and not being able to figure out why! This was very illuminating and I can see that I am making some of the very same mistakes you are showing. Thank you!

[@bobollie]

I cannot thank you enough, both of you. I discovered FP after getting Gavin Goulden's Swordmaster book and searching for him. As a traditional artist and qualified interior architect - this is quite simply gold dust. This has even helped me with a portrait I am painting at the moment! Really appreciate all your insight, talent and wisdom. Fanboy rant = over...

[@FlippedNormals]

Fantastic, thank you so much! We really appreciate it! Feel free to show us some of the work you're doing :)

[@Anton_G_604]

Good video, not many of these around! I always tell students and artists to worry about representing weight. First you have to get solid structure, then features, then work on weight. Planes and weight is what separates pro work from beginners. I see so many weightless faces, ageless beauties and smooth skin in many posts, that only happens in Photoshop :)

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks a lot for your comment! You're spot on here: Realizing that skin has actual weight will improve sculpts a lot.

[@mikecappelletti8429]

Thank you guys so, so much for what you do. I am not new to Zbrush but still a novice, I've done sculpture for years but cannot afford the professional suite. Your videos give concepts and reasoning behind the brush strokes that have taught me more than any other series. I will be a long time follower, ZbrushCore is my weapon and you are my masters, thank you again for all you do!!

[@wojt3d415]

this is basic stuff but every one should see this video to know something more, i didnt know that line between nose and chin, and some other stuff, now i know and will use that knowledge!

[@chaztrammell123]

Planes, planes, planes. After finishing two figurative sculpture classes I would say that one concept will make or break your work. Thanks for all of the wonderful tips as usual gentlemen, you're awesome.

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you very much! We'll do a separate video on the planes on the face too, as that deserves a dedicated video :)

[@ronthehybrid]

I needed to hear that, that you so much.

[@DemonicMonic]

This video has taught me that I need to remember to apply moisturizer.

[@bryanharrison3889]

That face at the very beginning of the intro, is PERFECT... I want to purchase this model. lol

[@MicheleCaforio]

lol dude: "in blocking out, it's gonna look like crap." took me long to get over that psychological minefield

[@MadiLush]

This was super helpful. I do clay sculpting, and I didn't realize how much it helped to be able to touch the figure and feel the planes of the face. And I have a hard time getting past the "Oh god I created a monster!" stage. lol...

[@MadiLush]

And I mean I created a monster when I didn't want to.

[@arianmahrokh1672]

I had lots of problems with the eyes this video was super useful thank you so mush.

[@nickvenz8212]

I learn many tools snd ideas of sculpting from you guys ... you are fabulous.. keep going teach us ... Love from 🇮🇳India... God Bless you ... 😇😇

[@LowTonin]

You guys are the best! Your teaching skills are superb.

[@oscarcampbellhobson]

Something I didn’t hear you mention is trust the process, you will just keep on refining it it doesn’t need to look perfect on the first brush stroke

[@jakomean]

I could listen to you two forever.

[@darksteelyurius]

Not sure what this says about the educational system but I'm learning more from watching your videos than I ever did going to college. You have me going back and checking out what I thought were my best pieces only to face palm like I just did. Had to go fix the eyes and lips, and the muscles lol. Keep up the great job guys!

[@FlippedNormals]

Thats awesome, thanks! :D

[@Elish-a]

Awesome video and advice 😊 I was struggling with refining the facial features and this really helped. Thank you!

[@loochieCS]

Great video! I started Zbrush about a month ago, and Flipped Normals has been the only source I need. Thanks Morten and Henning!

[@this.is.spencer]

This video was super informative for how much like click-bait the title sounds. Like I don't even remember what the 5 things are, but I learned specific areas to look out for. Thanks!

[@noveltycross1]

This is turning out to be my favorite 3d/vfx channel. And Im even using just blender! hah Your discussion about the topics have shown to be the most honest and thorough!

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks :D We really appreciate it - even if you are using Blender.

[@ciaranpmryan]

FlippedNormals No idea how I found you guys, but I started from your podcasts and now I’m checking out the videos more regularly. Also a blender user, but the core principles remain. Excellent content. Keep those uploads coming.

[@oskarzdrojewski983]

I think the problem with blocking out and looking bad without smoothing - at least from what it saw rn - might be the stroke direction and size. It kinda looks better if by blocking out shapes you also get some crevices that are natural in a situation rather than just making circles and trying to get a smooth result right away. But ofc this is just temporary so it doesn't matter that much.

[@FlippedNormals]

Yes indeed, I think you're onto something here. We'd love to make a video talking about this.

[@oskarzdrojewski983]

Cool, looking forward to it ^^

[@devinpayne6091]

Yay for butt noses! I'm proud of my nose crease. Thank you so much for this. These are all things I practice but I'm glad to see a video on it. You guys are awesome.

[@Nutty_art]

You guys are great. I always come back to your videos when I'm having a hard time with a specific piece I'm working on, and you always manage to reassure my confidence as an artist. Thank you.

[@mohebyarahmadi]

please make some tutorials about sculpting "Asian Eyes" and describe how to retopologies them for animation properly. the topology is a little bit tricky and complicated on the inner corners and around that double eyelid when it's open or close

[@michaelCuevas27]

Never knew about Farault. Super valuable

[@herokiryu2652]

Oh god thank you! Please do more about sculpting human anatomy! You guys are the best!

[@FlippedNormals]

A bunch on our list :D Thank you!

[@mattbarkerart]

great video, I've been sucking at eyes for many years! Also that self-doubt in the blocking stage of anything is crippling sometimes. A suggestion for other sculpting videos: How to deal with perspective in reference photos vs the viewports in Zbrush or other software. Persp/ortho & focal settings in Zbrush etc. Its something there's a lot of misinformation out there about, and would love to hear your take on it.

[@FlippedNormals]

Hi Matt! Thanks a lot for your comment. That's actually a really good idea. Perspective in ZBrush is such a tricky thing, as it's not really based on, well... real world data.. It's been the bane of my existence as a production artist. /H

[@JusTChiLLah]

I love your channel and the tutorials you provide. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and uploading quality videos continuously.

[@donloder1]

I hate flipped normals. They always go unnoticed.

[@gothicmuffinofdoom]

then you render and get the surprise

[@Architector_4]

That's why I disable backfaces when looking at the model. The mesh with flipped normals turns into glaring holes, and from the inside, nothingness turns into visible mesh, and you know what to fix.

[@PodcastPlayer]

nice one xD

[@siham7010]

And they also don't have knowledge of human anatomy...

[@rodrigotm1461]

get out

[@Julian-xo7vj]

That's one freaky looking sculpture. Cheers for the tutorial guys:)

[@Makanoyasha]

Apparently I have a very strange face because your reference of my mouth and nose are completely different from the perspective that you have. My mouth is sunken in comparison of my nose, and my nose is not that big at all, in fact the bridge (connection between the bone and cartilage) is incredibly less than what you are describing/referencing. It could be due to my ethnic background (Japanese and Spaniard), but it's dramatically different. Though you were spot on about eyes being forward though, as my eye is inline with my frontal bone. I will say, this is incredibly useful for opening perspectives of references, I feel confident about a lot of my references, and mainly watch these for brushes, and how people use them. I tend to use only 3-4 brushes, and want to expand my toolkit.

[@Crimsonpattyletsplay]

owf Voldemort looking good right here xD

[@FlippedNormals]

The most important thing is that Voldemort is beautiful on the inside, isnt it?

[@damiaanthelen5159]

I don't think he is...

[@Crimsonpattyletsplay]

He gave harry a free tattoo, the kindest guy of all time!

[@dragonknight7831]

What about ears? That's my biggest problem! Thanks for the videos.

[@FlippedNormals]

We'll do videos on specific parts like ears soon :)

[@justarandomgamer6309]

Wow this incredibly useful, I thought it wouldn’t really help me out a lot since I do not plan on sculpting but it’s really opened my eyes and I actually know now where I go wrong with my drawings thank you

[@DerianMTZ]

I just realized i need to look at more references, noses have always been a headache for me

[@GeorgeKaravatsos]

Really liked the pace of the video. I am an amateur trying to teach myself sculpting and watching different workflows really helps. My problem is that my models look more like Neanderthals than Homo Sapiens but hey I am slowly evolving!

[@Chaosium]

i havent slept in days, just learning zbrush, 3ds max, and substance painter, when i heard the second person talk i thought someone was in my room for a second. SO SPOOPY

[@FlippedNormals]

There's no second person. Im afraid your house is simply haunted :(

[@Chaosium]

@@FlippedNormals Bruh I'm on day 4 and the only thing keeping me from dying is adderall, coffee, and pistachios because my sleeping pills wont let me seep for more than 30 mnutes to an hour, you tell me my place is haunted, I'm liable to believe it at this point lol

[@nxtlvl2116]

i am study head anatomy and u guys post this video :0 i love u guys we need more tips about forms sculpt or anatomy mistakes

[@joedoherty1062]

Damn this waz so helpful. Brealimg up the lips into those 5 shapes was so eye opening. I'm fairly new to sculpting and the lips have been my kryptonite

[@c.glazercrush3994]

When you seek what lies after traditional proportions,and conventional works try this.

[@elijahjns81]

Thanks guys!

[@kitebabe05]

very helpful!! i making dolls in the classic way, im a bloody beginner in 3d, the eyelid thickness it is always problematic when the eyelids are too thick on dolls, the eyes later appear too dark and too deep, a little bit difficult to find the perfect thickness. thank you for this very helpful video!!

[@darkdodof]

Awesome work. Do more top mistakes videos.

[@lmz000]

Thanks so much for this video. Infinitely helpful! Can't thank you guys enough I struggle a lot with all this, still trying to improve in all key areas showed

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you so much! More face videos coming :)

[@FannyMMOs]

Your video got suggested to me on my homepage, but it's definitely not in my today's subscription feed. I think I recall Linus saying that there's some advanced video setting you can check to send your video to people's subscription feeds? Anyways, haven't watched this yet, but I'm sure it will be just as groundbreaking as the one about muscles. Can't wait for exams to end so I can practice!

[@deadsetanime7102]

HHmmm, a lot of this hearkens back to polygonal modeling which is step that I think shouldn't be skipped but people are jumping into sculpting without understanding anatomy or what to expect out of polygons because retopo is important. For this reason, I still model in Lightwave 1st then export to zbrush then back to Lightwave. All of these issues you mentioned are dealt with before I even get to zbrush.

[@adehopkins749]

So good! Great video for a noob (me)

[@misterimpossible_ai]

how long have you guys been working in the industry, and how old are you guys? I'm just curious.

[@eliasdegasperi_art]

Awesome tips. You guys are the best

[@Donovann09]

A really very very very useful video !!! It's my reference now ! Thank you so much.

[@DebbyTessy]

24:50 imagine having a babyface yourself, using my own face as reference is hard!! Really loved this video, it has this warm feeling like you're just listening to two friends talking yet teaches a lot!

[@FlippedNormals]

Having a baby-face is a curse and a blessing! Hard to use for reference, but my god, you age well :D Really glad you enjoyed our video. Plenty of more to come :) /Henning

[@BenVanCamp]

It’s rare too see so many positive comments on a KZbin video; pretty cool

[@АлексаМладић]

I learned how to sculpt a really ugly woman. Thanks flipped normals!

[@AlanDarkworld]

A very interesting and insightful video. I'm guilty of ALL of the mentioned mistakes, and I couldn't tell why my sculpt looks like an alien escaped from Roswell xD

[@jaferalbahli]

Many thanks dear

[@Virtual-Media]

Learned so much in a relatively short video. Please continue these excellent tutorials. Subed, reposted and will follow regularly. Thank you!

[@badradish2116]

this is GREAT

[@shamanik1320]

Your channel kicks ass! Great advice.

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks a lot!

[@dariaantonenko7608]

Thx a lot! Really useful :)

[@i8ET]

you guys are amazing. thank you :)

[@jirivehovsky1912]

thanks so much, paradise that you are doing this, I really appreciate it!

[@CandiRabbit]

oh- JESUS- IOwatched this video around three times, I remember when It first came out.. But after getting use to seeing the faces you've been teaching us from your most recent videos, When I came back and saw the "Base face- It was horrifying. XDDXDXD!

[@u3mmar958]

This is soooooooooo Helpful Amazing Video

[@FlippedNormals]

Glad you think so!

[@38dedo]

Thank you very much!

[@operationalhumanbeing9916]

0:14 - Remember Him? 28:11- He Is This Now. Feel Old Yet.

[@Agyani_21]

that's life

[@Triptweeze]

Great video! I need to buckle down and get to work on my fundamentals on faces. As interesting as the end result might be, there is only so much a displacement map can accomplish XD.

[@shubhamfartade7105]

Beautiful

[@ethangagne5489]

Thank you for the video, really helps when knowing what to look for.

[@cassette5229]

17:40 this made me laugh pretty hard haha

[@AliIShaki]

Thanks, it was very helpful

[@PonteRyuurui]

great tips

[@IfthiAli]

perfect timing I need this video

[@AmbientXVII]

How big is the entire eyeball, not just the visible parts, relative to the face?

[@Felix-rr6ug]

just eyeball it

[@Kenoshino]

Love your video's keep up the good work!!!!

[@ant1fact]

repeat 19:41-19:42 for the move topolo song :D I laughed so hard because stuff like this happens to me all the time when I speak English

[@FlippedNormals]

Words are hard, ok? :D You should do a song-remix of it.

[@ant1fact]

I might do but I need to get back to sculpting this creepy old dude's face for the Artstation challenge. Thanks for the video and looking forward to the next one!

[@lglg3541]

thanks

[@greennature1045]

so nice ty

[@KRGraphicsCG]

I've learned so much from this... I can't count how many times I have fucked up the eyes and facial features

[@FlippedNormals]

Awesome, thanks! We have another video out soon which will focus specifically on making eyes :) Around 25 min of eyes only.

[@mixchief]

22:45 Damn. Maybe it's time to try and reduce the smiling?

[@Giant_Swing]

Hey cool new logo, even though I really liked the old one

[@siddharthchari8748]

old one was better by 10 times

[@shin-ishikiri-no]

6:01 Looks like Mark Zuckerlizard.

[@majo2626]

Hey FlippedNormals, great stuff, are you using graphic tablet for sculpting?

[@cabbage-soup]

"the inside of the eye doesn't have to be pretty. there's always going to be an eyeball there"

[@MIchaelSybi]

Actually there's another reason why it's better to get rid of that area: the eye has a cornea area, and when it's a 3d model, you can see the eyelids penetrating through the cornea model, which doesn't look correct. In real life the eyelids would conform to follow the cornea form, but that doesn't happen with the 3d model.

[@IgorJemaytis]

Thank you man

[@FlippedNormals]

No worries, hope it was useful!

[@marcfuchs6938]

I am so glad I am not working in a realistic style, but rather following anime look. Your model usually is a lot simpler than how you would it intend to look in a realistic style. Also, you don't need to heavily follow realism - of course eyes and the like still have their place, but you are more working towards your preferred looks but perfect realism. However, it also comes with loads of specific drawbacks. Anime is supposed to have sharp shadows, usually 1 or 2 shadow layers. But you can't work with such a look, so you work with base shader or matcaps. And such common 3D shading gives a whole different look to a model, than final sharp shading does, so you always need to switch around and look at your model with that shader and without visible polygons - you need to check the final look again and again, because the editing look is nothing like it. Also, stylizing many aspects can be a real pain, when you are basically forbidden to use realistic material settings modern programs offer, that would basically give you a proper real look with one click. In anime style, you basically always need a workaround for creating that stylized look. For example eyes. For the sake of saving wasted rendertimes, you don't give them real reflections, but a glass material and a reflective texture. Maybe a highlight, boom, done, looks great. Anime eyes don't have any clear reflections, more something like a white ball resembling a simplified reflection (heavily depending on the style you go for, some eyes are ridiculously complex). But you gotta ask yourself, is that reflective spot always sitting infront of the pupil, or should it move around the surface of the eye, being more realistic, especially from an angle, but also often merging with the white of the eyeball? Or hair, don't you get me with stylized hair...... It's not too bad for still figures, but if you want an animatable character with physically flowing hair, get yourself ready for days of endless workarounds.

[@wallacesousuke1433]

Eww anime look 🤢🤢

[@paweljankowski7836]

Creating a sculpt from scratch without automation and talent is a pain in the ass

[@vulpes1000]

When doing a human sculpt that is going to be retopoed and rigged with a lot of facial animations, how do you guys do the mouth? Just barely open, like in this video with it closed but both upper and lower lips separate..I just see a lot of character sculpts with the mouth closed.

[@tezza48]

For someone in space you'll see that their skin just falls away from their faces almost like it's swelling a bit. You can see it on the ISS footage on the various space agency channels.

[@CandiRabbit]

Whenever I have to draw noses, I always Looked at how it had a small "Cat" Front. I noticed with my own nose the small triangle- and then I thought. "Oh God, Don't turn me into a furry."

[@1thru8]

Do you have guys have one for hairs? I would love to see that one.

[@FlippedNormals]

You mean, sculpted hair or stuff like Xgen? :)

[@nxtlvl2116]

i just finished it nice video i can't wait for plane of the face video keep it up

[@josepheastman8509]

What size and strength are you using for the fine detail of the eyes? Like the deep creases and to plump it up "just a little bit"

[@pierre.colourist]

For sure

[@mikkelmelby]

thanks alot igjen with insights n tips for free! i will purchase at ur marketplace when i get some cash this summer!

[@sebs-shenanigans]

That pure ref program, anyone knows how the lads keep it constantly on screen without it being minimized when they work with Zbrush?

[@grzegorzwiecek7413]

Could you write the name of the artist you mentioned in 5:05, it is hard to capture the spelling from listening ;) Thanks

[@miqueiassantana1988]

His site is in the description

[@grzegorzwiecek7413]

@@miqueiassantana1988 Thank you

[@SkinlessMaple]

Hey there, I’m just astonished by the level of your work and i just want to thank you for sharing all your experience with everyone! I am going to University next September and i could use some advice on what laptop to buy. (I can spend up to €2000) Thanks :)

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you so much! We both really appreciate it :) Best of luck to you in September. I recommend that you check out our video on schools and universities, to be more prepped though, as this might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5zXdaSXiJKNjJI I have a Dell XPS 15" which is great! Couldnt be happier about it - and its within your price range too. /Henning

[@eucharistenjoyer]

With this money you can buy a MSi GS63VR 7RG Stealth Pro with a gtx 1070 and 16gb of RAM.

[@SkinlessMaple]

FlippedNormals Thank you for the advice. I have already watched your video about schools, and believe me, i would not be able to make a good decision if I haven’t watched that discussion. I understood how important it is to judge a Courses by who is teaching there, the work of the students and the placement opportunities and not just by rankings. You guys helped me so much in understanding how the field works and definitely deserve a big thank you! :)

[@Stylusofwonders]

You can buy an acer predator helios 300 or maybe acerpredator helios 500. they are pretty good laptops. Anyway go on their website and search. I'm pretty sure you can buy one with €2000

[@brdklt]

words of wisdom!

[@amrishpatel3501]

@FlippedNormals Those are the parts, where I usually struggle with. Plus I'm busy with my portfolio, which I'm going to apply for a job next month or possibly end of this month at a local Indie Game Studio here in Auckland NZ. :) Also what you guys mentioned in this video, I never learnt any of that back in Animation School either. lol :P

[@FlippedNormals]

These parts are such hard to get right - and you can see in the video, we still didnt get them right, where we'll just have to spend a lot more time refining everything. Nice man! Best of luck to you with your application :D Hope that goes well. Keep us up to date! /Henning

[@amrishpatel3501]

I will. I'm currently doing Cubebrush's Ultimate Career Guide to a 3D Artist to create my portfolio :)

[@aleph-tav]

Amrish Patel where did you study? I’m NZ looking for 3D art school

[@amrishpatel3501]

I studied at Animation College NZ. However, before you decide to go to a 3D Art School. Please watch Flipped Normals video called,"The Harsh Truth About Going to Art School." Before you decide enrolling into a 3D Art School, they are very expensive & will cause you considerable amount of Student Loan debt. Please watch that video I mentioned in this comment & listen to what these guys say about Art School.

[@aleph-tav]

Amrish Patel thanks mate. Only think I have with online it’s unstructured and I struggle to find good courses where I can insight into the whole 3D process.

[@Yoshio804]

How do you start with a hole for the mouth like that?