The Head Study app

See the form. Then draw it.

3D head models you can light from any angle. Switch between the planes, the skull and the muscles to understand what you are drawing.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

For iOS and Android. Made by Stephen Bauman.

01 · Model

Choose your model

Four models, from simple planes to full anatomy. Start simple and add structure as your eye develops.

Block-in planes of the head
Planes of the head
Male skull
Écorché head

02 · Light

Light it from anywhere

Place one or two lights anywhere around the head and watch the planes turn from light into shadow.

One or two light sources
Position in 360 degrees
Strength and colour of each light

03 · Background

Set the background

Change the value, colour and chroma behind the head to see how the form reads against it.

Value
Colour
Chroma

04 · Base colour

Change the base colour

Shift the model’s value, colour and chroma to test different skin tones under the same light.

Value
Colour
Chroma

Four models

From simple planes to full anatomy

Block-in planes

The simplest version of the head, matched to the first stage of a portrait.

Planes of the head

Shows how light falls across the main planes of the face and skull.

Male skull

The structure under every portrait. The same skull I use in my anatomy lessons.

Écorché head

The head without its skin, so you can see each muscle and where it attaches.

What artists say

“An illuminating tool for surface forms and reference points. I recommend it as an effective device for the painter and draftsperson alike.”

Dan Thompson

“This app is amazing… The muscle head and the skull, the lighting is fantastic.”

Thomas Fluharty

“The fact that we can switch between the planes, skull and muscles is also a great way to quickly remember/check some things we might have forgotten… I have used few apps like this before and this one is clearly the best.”

Mathieu Nozieres

Study the head from every angle.

Head Study is on iOS and Android.