What are your favorite contemporary portrait artists?

Do professional portrait artists use measurements for achieving likeness of faces?

• Like, whenever I draw portrait from a photo I usually use measurements of various portions of the face to draw a proportionally correct portrait in order to achieve likeness. I find it really hard to do so without using the ruler. Have anybody heard about artists who can draw a portrait just by gauging proportions without actually measuring anything. I have also heard that people who draw portraits from life uses 'thumb and pencil' measurement technique to deduce proportions. Is it really possible to draw a portrait that captures the likeness of the person just by 'eyeballing' the photo.

• Answer:

  Measurement has its place, but most artists rely primarily on their training and observation skills. The problem with trying to copy a photo directly is that photos lie. Things are flattened and foreshortened in ways that won't translate well to a drawn portrait. You need an understanding of anatomy and proportion to see what the photo is hiding from you. Look up the book Drawing the Head and Hands by Andrew Loomis, you can download it free online. If you follow the exercises, your portraits will greatly improve.