[Julia Reynolds]

Ha, I never heard that one. I like it. It rings true.

I am familiar with the method of holding a pencil up and aligning and comparing distances but I wasn't comfortable with it. Especially if the model was drifting! All my measuring was useless.

I trained myself and I rely on my ability to do it strictly by eye. I also focus on the characteristics of a face, i.e.: does the person have close set eyes, large nose, high forehead, etc. So if the model drifts I still have "knowledge" of his/her face. Anyway, much of it I can't explain, it is instinctual. It's just the way I do it and have found I get an acceptable likeness which I stress even in a life drawing workshop.

Hope this answers your question.