Planes of the Head
 

Well I have found myself in a desperate spot, so I am going to attempt to take matters into my own hands.

"The Planes of the Head" by John Asaro which is featured in John Howard Sanden's book, was also introduced to me in AZ while attending a Whitaker workshop as a great tool for creating form with light when the details might need more explanation or not be there at all, as in a posthumous portrait.

I cannot locate one of these cast.

With the help of the place that cuts my hair and some very high tech clay, I would like to recreate a "cast" like head loosely based on the above.

I am just concerned that I don't fully understand why the two sides of the head differ, before looking closely I thought it was muscular, but now I don't know if it is to show how different areas would turn for different types of light.

Does anyone know the history of this sculpture and what the sides mean?

Thanks!

Beth,

Are you looking for something like this head cast ?

Thanks for the link Maria, I had seen that posted here some where before. Honestly their images are so poor I can't tell what is going on.

It is the one above I would like, you will see how the two sides are modeled differentl. It is the further explaination as to why - I am trying to find here.

Hi Beth,

I think that the two sides represent a rough and a more detailed model of the head.

As a sculptor would go for the egg shape first and put details such as nose and mouth in later.

Allan

Thanks Allan, see I would have not looked at it that way!

I posted this at too other sites, and some one sent me to this thread at Wet Canvas, here is the important part:

I'll let you know if I hear back from her.

Found "planes" at Statue.com
 

Hi Elizabeth -

I found "Planes of the Head" at Statue.com a few seconds ago.

Caution - I own "Planes" and have many colleagues who have inadvertently broken their copy due to a narrow base. So I would make sure that you place the interior of the statue on a stick (covered with cloth for extra protection) that is screwed solidly and supported by a wood base in order to prevent it from falling over and breaking.

Here is some information and a link below:
http://www.statue.com/Itemdesc.asp?C...P&tpc=&cc=&SR=

PLANES OF THE HEAD BUST

More Info Item Code: TSH1028P
Size: 17" HIGH
List Price:$ 137.00

These are made to order by an Italian artisan and are specially crafted for each order and will take up to 6 weeks for delivery. Each are finished and carefully crafted by hand. This copy may be a variation of the Asaro rendition.

Regards -
Edgar

Thanks Edgar, I had seen that one too. (Cynthia needs to teach these cast sites how to fix their images.)

It is very different from the one above as best as I could tell the first time I looked at their site.

That would make sense about the small base. The hand I have holding a sphere has a wood peg and base which causes me to hold my breath everytime I walk by.

I'm a little surprised that this URL doesn't show up on a Forum search, so I'll toss it into the mix. I saw it in a recent art mag, though I'm afraid I don't remember which one. (My memory is full, and I've forgotten as well how to close other applications to make room.)

This appears to be a bit of a knockoff of the one we've come to know and love through its near-mythic omnipresence and paradoxical retail unavailability, but in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, and so on . . .

www.planesofthehead.com

Hi Beth,

I have the book by Asaro, it's a 35 paged one, I can email you the main pages or all of them if you want.

A few pages...

You might find more about the subject in Loomis' Book "Drawing the Head and Hands". I can email you the main pages too, the whole book however would be a little complex, it's a 149 paged book.

By the way, the pages are larger and easier to be read.

Claudemir those look great! If you do have them in a PDF type or jpeg format I would love a copy!

Steven I didn't click on the link but I am guessing it goes to his niece's site or email. She has his permission to reproduce them. I have yet to purchase one because they are made of a gray plastic and are priced like plaster. But I would love to hear if anyone has invested in the new one! A number of people wrote me asking how to reach her but I have not heard back if they liked it or not.

I have yet to break open that clay!

Ok Beth, I'll send you them via email.

By the way, I can email them to everyone who is interested in the subject.

Bonfim, thanks again = all that reference really helped me on a "head" problem this week.

I also received and email from Brian Allanson who is an often visitor here and he wanted to pass on this information:



QUOTE]
Brian,

Hello. Heads w/ 34 page booklet are available. You can send check or money order for the $98 per head to me at:

Karen Knapp
630 Perkinswood Blvd SE
Warren, OH 44483

thanks,
Karen

As soon as I receive order with payment, I ship out the heads. [/QUOTE]

Again if anyone has purchased one of these I hope they will mention here what they think of it!

Planes of the Head
 

For those who are interested in investing in the new, gray plastic version of the Planes of the Head, here is my experience. I purchased one from Karen Knapp. Linda Brandon used the white, plaster version in her Shemer Art Center class and all of her students became quickly dependent on it. Lighting in that studio came from a skylight directly above the model which, of course, changed rapidly during the afternoon session. Linda's Planes of the Head sat in front of the model each day and helped all of us to see the model's facial planes clearly.

After contacting Karen Knapp re: the purchase of the plastic version, Karen responded quickly with photos of the head via email. She required a personal check, so the turn-around time was a little longer than it would have been with a credit card. Of course, I wanted it YESTERDAY!

I cannot say enough good things about the included booklet. Before receiving it, I couldn't imagine why 34 pages would be needed on this subject. NOW, I wouldn't part with the booklet for anything and guard it jealously. Diagrams of head planes are displayed at every angle. Individual lessons on each feature viewed at various angles are included. Everything in the booklet is helpful. It could be a basic text for all classes that include the human head.

The color of the head disappointed me at first, but as it is about a 5 value, it actually works quite well. In my very humble opinion, this particular version of the Planes of the Head is a valuable addition to any artist's studio AND it is unbreakable! :thumbsup:

Carol thanks for the review, that is just what I was hoping to hear!

Two things; is the 34 page booklet like the images Bonfim posted, and did you ever consider spray painting the Grey with some kind of matte white paint?

Thanks in advance!

#1Thing. (No, I am not Dr. Seuss's daughter...) The booklet is NOT like the Bonfirm's booklet. Karen Knapp's is filled with drawings/diagrams instead of words. (Yahoo!)

#2 Thing. No, I didn't consider spray-painting the head white because I figured that I could use the lighting to clue me in on the upward planes. I compared the value of the head to the teachers that I have had who wanted a palette that reflected around a value of 5 (the walnut is darker) and the teachers who wanted us to place white paper beneath a glass/acrillyc palette. My plein aire.still-life teachers have a different MOs/palettes.

Now, Chris Saper, Linda Brandon and...Bill Whitaker (all my heroes) recommended the hand-held palette that I purchased for their classes - in a mid-range, walnut color. SO... being the underclasswoman, I decided I was the one to get used to the gray planes-of-the-head color of the same value thus creating dis-equilibrium necessary to my learning. I have so much to learn, that I didn't make the decision to change the gray to white although I found Linda's white plaster head EASIER to read than the gray one. (I go to exptemes to learn what is needed!) You will know what you need to do.

Hope this helps, Beth. (I admire and love your work and aspire to be as proficient as you are.)
:thumbsup:

Great minds! We have the same heroes!

Carol here is a big question, now no laughing... is it shinny? ;)


I am thinking the booklet has to be the pages from Asaro's book. Here is another page Bonfim sent me, perhaps it's alike - of course it won't be the first time I am wrong.

Thanks for your kind words too, boy did I need those today!

:) Beth

The "Flat" Gray Head
 

1. Beth, you are correct. The page you selected is from the Planes of the Head booklet.
2, The head is a flat gray. It is especially helpful when using a photograph as a resource.

Carol