HUMAN PROPORTIONS
MEASURE IN HEAD HEIGHTS AND WIDTHS
The 8 head high standard model makes it easy to divide the human body into relative proportional sections. Of course intensive observation skills will over-ride these broad and variable guidelines, as the human body varies in its proportions but it helps to know a really broad baseline.
NOW SIMPLIFY THE SKELETON KEEPING IN MIND THE LANDMARKS IN THIS PREVIOUS ILLUSTRATION
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT AGES
The old ideal standard was 7 1/2 heads, but most artists today accept 8 heads as the standard, 8.5 for fashion, 9-10 for super heroes. This empirical chart is very old, but a fair guide in terms of relative proportions by age.
OLD CHART FOR FEMALE PROPORTIONS
Don’t laugh, this old chart shows a lot more than ideal proportions some 50 years ago.
You can also see a variation in the adjustment for the neck (1/3 of head height instead of 1/4). So we liked our ladies with long necks, in heels and narrow hips (American chart in FEET AND INCHES)